Is it the sights of the season that dazzle? Is it the explosion of flavors in your mouth that have set your taste buds dancing? Is it the sound of the choir and orchestra sending you on a journey to the heavens above?

It’s fun to partake in such things. Spirits soar in delight. Imaginations are tickled.

This year, the usually full music experience has been much less because I have not been able to safely sing thanks to Covid concerns.

But seeing and exploring new sights has filled my holiday calendar this year. My companion and I have managed to check off two items on our mutual bucket lists.

Returning to Colonial Williamsburg to experience and learn about how Christmas was celebrated in the living museum town did not disappoint.

Our leisurely week there afforded us so many opportunities to stroll the streets just soaking up the beauty of the lingering colors of fall as seen in the glorious ginkgo trees; smelling the smoke from the blacksmith’s fires; hearing the clomping of passing horse drawn carts and learning of colonial life.

To top things off, we were further rewarded by a weekend of Grand Illuminations activities unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before.

We reflected on our hopes and dreams for the new year and burned up our woes as we tossed our evergreen sprigs into the Yule Log fire.

The following evening, the fireworks-to-end-all-fireworks were seen from the Colonial Governor’s Palace.  It was an indescribable experience!

Our grand holiday trek concluded with a host of sensory delights as we experienced the Biltmore Estate’s annual candlelight tour.

Check out this grand gingerbread house version of the Biltmore. Wow!

We sit back in reflection of having seen such wonders. Fully sated and happy.

Then there comes a text message with a picture that shuffles our thoughts of contentment back to reality.

Here is my sweet joy. My own sugar plum. My newest granddaughter.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, sweet readers. May your sugar plums be ones that fill your soul.

Deidre

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From Sheree: I want to extend my good wishes and prayers for all that you have a very merry, happy, and healthy Christmas. Remember the true reason for the season.

The First Christmas

Marian Swinger

It never snows at Christmas in that dry and dusty land.

Instead of freezing blizzards, there are palms and drifting sands,

and years ago a stable and a most unusual star

and three wise men who followed it, by camel, not by car,

while, sleepy on the quiet hills, a shepherd gave a cry.

He’d seen a crowd of angels in the silent starlit sky.

In the stable, ox and ass stood very still and calm

and gazed upon the baby, safe and snug in Mary’s arms.

And Joseph, lost in shadows, face lit by an oil lamp’s glow

stood wondering, that first Christmas Day, two thousand years ago.

God bless us everyone …

Sheree Alderman, Editor