Lights, Ribbons and Paper | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Please join me in welcoming Author Michele Rhem, who presents us with her poignant memoirs of the Rabbit Patch, where her diaries weave tales of a simpler, expressive life lost to many, but gathered together in her most familiar environs - the Rabbit Patch.

    Morning broke again with a holy silence. It is hard to be anything but reverent when all around you is still. The peace washes over you like rain and acts like a comforting tonic. . . when the day is born gently. I am always humbled at the majesty of nature, and at the same time empowered, knowing I am part of it, for our Source is the same.

    I came in and started on the "Christmas projects" . I started right off sorting the presents, by family. When all was said and done, one present was missing. I took everything out of the Christmas closet, something that has not happened in years. Well, now the Christmas closet is in good order. This was the only closet, not cleaned out in July. Besides gifts, the closet holds wrapping accessories and my beloved Christmas china. I had not planned on this task and besides that, I did not find the gift. The hall was a disaster and I explained to Christian I was looking for a gift, He made tracks, remembering the search for the ornaments. As I was putting things back in the closet, I found the gift. It was in a bag, hanging on the door of the closet.

    By noon, Kyle had the tree up and shining through the double windows in the living room. I was wrapping presents and humming as I did so. For the first time in years, I ran out of boxes, then tape, and then wrapping paper! I always buy a surplus of supplies after the holiday. so it is a mystery to me how that happened. I had to go to town, in the midst of things. The nearest town is about fifteen minutes, so I combed my hair and went. I had about fifty gift bags, but Christmas is but once a year, and I really love wrapped presents. I found some candy cane paper, snowmen and Santa (for Lyla) - all red and white, so I was pleased, but this was the second hour of interruption for me, if you count the Christmas closet ordeal . . .and I did.

    I slipped a chicken and broccoli casserole in the oven and put on a pot of rice- and continued wrapping presents. Kyle and I worked on the porch. Kyle loves Christmas. He did not complain once as we worked, but ran to find extension cords and light bulbs, eagerly. This made the work go quickly. Thankfully, all of the lights worked. I had tested them yesterday, but that doesn't always ensure success.

    Tonight, I am going to work til I can't. I have not given up on making cookies either . . . of course, tomorrow is Monday-and you know that changes everything.