I am up early, to bake the coffee cakes, like that old Dunkin Donuts commercial, my song is “Time to make the coffee cakes.” The two I made yesterday didn’t work out. They appear flatter than they should be. But, my daughter says they will taste fine. Of course they will. There is enough butter and sour cream in them to feed a family of four for two weeks. I make six for friends and family. It was my mother and her mother’s tradition.
I am listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing carols, and thinking of Barb, a very old ( 95) friend who died this year listening to the same choir. She had five children by the time she was 26, and on Christmas the big treat was pancakes with ground up candy in them. That’s all she had.
And I’m texting my sister in New York. Her husband is recovering from surgery so it’s a quiet Christmas for her. She is thinking about Papa Bob, our father, who died on Christmas Eve in this house four years ago. I will regret that I cut him off from a second Bloody Mary for the rest of my life. As regrets go, that’s not too bad. I will always be grateful that my Alaskan sister and I cared for him here for his last years. It was, in hindsight, a light burden.
I still have not thrown out his last Clamato can. I just added it to my holiday décor, since last year we mixed some into the memorial cocktails and everyone got sick. I’m guessing it was the clam juice.
But what I want to tell you, is that after I put the cakes in the oven and set the timer for 45 minutes ( they take 55 usually but I really didn’t want to burn them) I ran upstairs and pedaled my bike like crazy. There is a family skating date at 11, and 15 of us (just family) are coming for an early dinner since church is at 7:30, and children need to sleep so Santa will come. My heart is full and beating hard–
To the point: when I came downstairs looking nothing like mother Christmas in my sweaty bike clothes and opened the oven door, the Mormons broke into Hark the Herald Angels and the cakes had risen! I kid you not. The angels of Christmas? Good luck? Proper measuring? Barb? Papa Bob looking down from the Clamato can?
It feels like Love and I’ll take it. The Love, that as the hymn goes, comes down at Christmas.
Papa Bob was a Rite One Episcopalian and a King James kind of guy. I still prefer the music of the old words too, especially at Christmas.
I memorized Luke’s Christmas gospel when I was a little kid after hearing Linus recite it on the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon, and it is still what Christmas is all about—
May you and yours feel the love, too.
Christmas Story
King James Version, Luke , Chapter 2, verses 1-14
2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
