Remembering what’s important

Published 7:00 am Wednesday, November 26, 2014

In this profession, one never knows what to expect from day to day. For me, it’s one of the most exciting benefits.
There are days when I cover regularly scheduled municipal and civic meetings as well as events held at schools.
Then there’s also that phone call I may receive during the day, when the caller tells me about something or someone that is doing great things for this county.
There’s never a dull moment and often times I speak with people who impact my life in ways they don’t know. I have met many who have shared their message with me at times when I have a similar situation going on in my own personal life.
This week, I interviewed Marie Whitman, the creator of the Whitmanville Christmas Village.
It was a treat to see the large number of intricately detailed pieces she has in her display and it reminded me of my childhood Christmas village.
Every year, my mom would drape our coffee table in a white blanket of snow and set out her handmade Christmas village.
The homes and church were made out of plastic canvas and yarn. Tiny trees, people, lamps and of course Santa Claus were glued to the pieces.
It was a simple village and was made with love by my very talented mother’s work with a plastic canvas, needlework, cross-stitching and knitting.
Sadly, I did not inherit this “crafty” gene.
This simple village that I loved so much reminds me of Christmases spent in my childhood home in Bay St. Louis.
I never had a “bad” Christmas in that home. It didn’t matter what presents were under the tree as long as we had each other.
Thanks to Hurricane Katrina, that home and village are now gone and reduced to existing only as memories.
A couple of years ago, my mom found and ordered the patterns for the same village and has since recreated some of her pieces.
Times have changed and we have grown a lot since that time, but one thing will always remain the same. Home is definitely where your family is.

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