About 7 months ago, I visited a place which dates back to the roots of my ancestry. While on a train which left from London going to Brighton, England, I would be fully contented with the view of the English countryside, a panini that Madi didn't want from a quaint little cafe, and amused by two twenty-something women behind us who engaged in endless small talk.
Since Brigton is a coastal city, we would have the chance to visit the beachfront along the English Channel. We enjoyed the walk as the city streets led the way. The streets of Brigton painted a portrait of quaint, winding neighborhood drives,
charming shopping venues and happy crowds. The sun shone and everyone just seemed to be in good spirits to include us.
The UK is home to a multilevel bookstore chain known as Waterstones. I remembered visiting from my last trip with Rebecca. Madi and I each had something specific we were in need of. All Madi needed was a book a friend recommended to keep her occupied on the flight home. The book I wanted was a special book that I wanted to get for Madi's younger 8-year-old sister Emma as a souvenir and early
Christmas present.
This past Christmas, I took time out from shopping and holiday functions to enjoy
a little Christmas present which was brought to me by some online Anglophile
friends of mine via Youtube. It was a video based on Emma's book which is a very
charming animated tale of a boy and a snowman titled, none other than, "The Snowman"
by Raymond Briggs- It's kind of like Britains version of "Frosty" without
the song, the magic hat (though he wore a hat in the story, but his life did not
depend on it) and, most distinctively, no dialogue. The story was told through
illustration and music creating a brilliant concept which has become a customary
tradition in this culture for many years. I first watched it alone and then shared
it with Emma since it was still age appropriate for her and she was really the only
one out of the five who expressed interest.
It may have been off season at the time but I knew the bookstore would probably
have the actual book the story was based on which they did. Emma valued the book
and kept it hidden on the mantle of the fireplace until her 3-year-old sister
somehow got a hold of it and took a couple of markers to the back cover.
Fortunately, I was able to wipe off her artwork with a wet cloth and I now keep it
on my special shelf in the master bedroom along with my Dr. Suess limited addition
favorites collection, my classic Sesame Street series circa 1969, and any other
items the kids may want but not allowed to be touched.
I cannot always say that I am full of holiday cheer at Christmas time. It's just not
really the same when you are a grown up. After singing in choirs my whole life
followed by directing them in my adult years, those same carols year after year
which once put me in the spirit seem to have lost their newness.
Truthfully, when someone asks me what I want for Christmas, I don't really have an
answer. Not that I don't appreciate a warm, fuzzy pair of slippers or a QT gift
card (one of my favorites last year from a student and I am secretly hoping for the
slippers this year). It's nice when someone takes the time to think of me that way,
I am just one of these people who finds contentment in other ways.
In this case, I don't mind if I get the same as what I got last year.
Place: Brighton Sussex, United Kingdom
Date: May 24th, 2014
*The candle in the photo was handmade with actual pebbles I collected from Brighton Beach.
