Finding the silver linings

This afternoon’s sunlight and lack of a howling wind belong on my list of things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. In her great song, Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell sings a refrain  with an all too true question: 

Don't it always seem to go 
That you don't know what you've got 
Till it's gone ....

Until this year in particular, I’ve probably taken sunlight too much for granted, although each winter I complain about its lack. The Star Tribune had an article last March about our cloudier than usual weather. I’ve not been able to find anything that continues the trend analysis. Nevertheless, I’m trying to appreciate what  we are now enjoying rather than complaining about  what we’ve been missing. It’s part of my strategy to avoid coal in my stocking this year. That should help reduce my carbon footprint, right?

November overcast breaking up

Photo by J. Harrington

In the midst of writing this posting, the Better Half and I were invited to keep an eye on the  Granddaughter while Mom and Dad did the Christmas lights. The advantages of having an extended family that lives a short drive away! We’ve spent much  of  the afternoon reading, playing blocks, waving Hi! and taking a walk to look out the door and see what Mom and Dad are doing outside.

On our drive home yesterday, after picking up our dinner to go, we saw three separate houses with Christmas lights on. Like mushrooms after a wet spring, more and more decorations will pop up during the next week or so. None will be as bright, heartwarming nor as entertaining for us as a certain 1 year old we enjoy hanging  out with. May each of you have as much joy in your lives as we’ve found this  holiday season. With luck and love, we can make cloudiness just a passing  state of mind.

At Christmas

By Edgar Guest

A man is at his finest
     towards the finish of the year;
He is almost what he should be
     when the Christmas season is here;
Then he's thinking more of others
     than he's thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children
     is a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than
     at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him
     he comes close to the sublime.

When it's Christmas man is bigger
     and is better in his part;
He is keener for the service
     that is prompted by the heart.
All the petty thoughts and narrow
     seem to vanish for awhile
And the true reward he's seeking
     is the glory of a smile.
Then for others he is toiling and
     somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas he is almost
     what God wanted him to be.

If I had to paint a picture of a man
     I think I'd wait
Till he'd fought his selfish battles
     and had put aside his hate.
I'd not catch him at his labors
     when his thoughts are all of pelf,
On the long days and the dreary
     when he's striving for himself.
I'd not take him when he's sneering,
     when he's scornful or depressed,
But I'd look for him at Christmas
     when he's shining at his best.

Man is ever in a struggle
     and he's oft misunderstood;
There are days the worst that's in him
     is the master of the good,
But at Christmas kindness rules him
     and he puts himself aside
And his petty hates are vanquished
     and his heart is opened wide.
Oh, I don't know how to say it,
     but somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas man is almost
     what God sent him here to be. 

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