Kathleen's Korner at TheStidhams.com

Tonight is Christmas Eve. So many people are busy celebrating, anticipating, enjoying. Many are Christians, but in the United States a significant number who are celebrating are not. Some practice no religion in particular, or are only nominally Christians, enjoying the festive secular aspects of the common Christian holidays. Many follow other religions, and have adapted this Santa-tree-and-presents gala to their own winter festivals. Culturally and historically, our family has practiced Christmas, so we maintain many of the traditions though we do not celebrate Christmas itself.

In years past, I have been uncomfortable when people have wished me a Merry Christmas, assuming that I somehow share their feelings or religion. But then I realized it’s because they want to be wished a Merry Christmas — so I smile and say it back. But I never initiate these exchanges… and am much more comfortable when people just say “happy holidays” –for in fact there are many holidays being celebrated this time of year in the United States: from Thanksgiving which is a federal holiday to the New Year, another federal holiday. In between usually come Hanukkah, Yule/Solstice, Christmas and many other festivals that celebrate the returning light in the Northern Hemisphere. It could be a lovely, open, happy, sharing experience.

This year however there seem to be some particularly angry, unhappy people in the United States, who feel that since there are a majority of people who practice Christianity that everyone should therefore consider Christmas the only holiday that is being celebrated this time of year. Though I am not sure which version of Christmas they wish to see represented. They are upset that Nativity scenes are not put up by government entities like city hall any more. They are upset that stores hang signs saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”

At the same time, people of other religions are beginning to ask to be represented alongside wreaths and trees and garlands. Or to ask that even the secular displays of trees with snowflakes or holly garlands be removed. A rabbi in Seattle made the news this year after SeaTac Airport first took down all their trees and then put them back up when he asked to put a large menorah in the airport. No additions to the airport decorations were made, but the furor it caused has been horrific. This same rabbi convinced the governor to add a menorah to the trees in the capitol rotunda this year.

Menorahs are more frequently displayed in this way, or dreidels, alongside Christian symbols. My only concern about this is that Hanukkah is not a significant religious holiday for Jewish people like Yom Kippur or Rosh Hoshanah. If we are going to place Hanukkah “opposite” Christmas, then we should acknowledge those truly signifiant holy days also. And Muslim holy days, and Sikh, and … But then, which ones should be officially sanctioned by the government and which ones are too obscure or strange? Is there a point at which businesses should be bullied to conform to the most vocal group’s religious traditions?

Only this year, some people of minority faiths who died in military service were denied the placement of their religious symbol of choice on government-sponsored tombstones because their faiths were too obscure or strange — hadn’t been officially recognized by the military branch of the United States’ government. At what point is policing the free expression of religious affiliation the proper business of government or the public sector? At what point does a private citizen or citizen’s group desire to reflect their beliefs take precedence over the right of others to NOT be confronted by them?

I expect the “conversation” to continue far into the future.

We are, in fact — really — a multi-cultural society, and this should be cause for celebration. Rather than assuming someone shares our personal belief system or cultural practices, it would be good to treat everyone with respect. Not aggressively pushing any particular holy day or holiday (secular celebration), but carefully listening to the wisdom of each.

To You, reading this message, I wish you the happiest of seasons and the most prosperous and pleasant of new years. Merry Christmas, if it fits.

Yesterday was the solstice. It was a short day, but busy for our family. I should probably give up on trying to make it a really special day as it lacks the emotional pull of a “Christmas”, but managed to pull off a decent coffeecake in the morning and a fancier than normal dinner.  For me, this day is the beginning of my time to start planning for the next garden, to work on little things around the house, to rest and hibernate.  The next two months for me are generally very difficult, so I try to minimize activities and focus on hearth and home.

The boys and I spent yesterday morning trying to get the house a little more pulled together for a visit from our dear friend, who goes by “riemann” on playbabble.com

Known by the kids as “Uncle John”, he called about 11 from Tacoma where we would pick him up, and the elder kid and I dashed north to retrieve him. Mission accomplished, we met up with my Tom and did a quick shopping run at Costco on his lunch hour so he could spend a bit of time with his best friend.

The rest of the day was — interesting… our big dog is terrified of tall men. Everytime our friend tried to stand, there was Lucky, growling with his hackles all raised. Poor puppy, poor friend!

So John and our elder son stayed at my parents’ home last night just to get a break from Mr. Afraid and so Lucky had a chance to unwind.  Still, when Tom (who took today off) retrieved them this morning and drove into the driveway, Lucky barked and barked. Funny thing, though — he doesn’t mind when John decides to throw the ball!  At least it’s dry today, and with four energetic men in the house, he won’t lack for playtime today.

So I am going to concentrate on updating my blogs and making a few cards.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll even manage to update my webpages this weekend!

Here are pictures that demonstrate exactly (I hope) why I am unproductive creatively the last ten months — and why I am so frustrated!  Hoping it will be remedied soon…

As you can see, there is still plastic hanging from the ceiling to protect my desk and some of the fabrics, a large container of insulation, the shopvac and various other tools strewn about.

Behind the empty boxes and the boxes of empty beer bottles (we save them to refill when friends make beer) you can see a bit of the wall where the insulation isn’t yet up.  The mottling is from mildew…  I treated it so it no longer grows, but the staining remains.  This corner is where Tom’s desk belongs.  His desk now takes up part of the entry area, and books and boxes of his supplies are piled in our bedroom in front of the dressers…

The image above shows the clutter of tools better.  Behind the tarp is the desk I use for computer work and writing.  Not much getting done there now!  and below on the other side of the wall is the corner I use for sewing and studying.  You can see some silk scarves awaiting their makeovers, and the desk piled high with items I can’t put away on the writing desk.

I finally cleared a narrow path to my workbench a week or so ago, but as you can see in the image above it’s still pretty cluttered and cramped.  Not real conducive to creativity.  And the image below shows the very end of the workbench near the door, and the comfortable chair that belongs over by the window for reading…

Hard to stay organized when there is no SPACE for organizing.  I have spent most of my time the last many months working from the sofa where the light is poor, or from the kitchen which has a skylight but I can’t leave my materials set up while things dry for a few hours…

Lest you think I complain with little effort to change things, we have thrown out or donated at least a pick-up full of items in the last three months!  But organization comes slowly when storage and time are at a premium.

Still, I now have a skylight that will stay bright (the plastic in the old one had turned semi-opaque), and does not leak.  And the wiring in the wall under the window is complete.

And the rest of the house will seem so much bigger when I can get things stored away properly in the office again!