A View of the Valley

by Linda Schwanke The stockings are hung, the cookies are baked, the weeks of planning and preparations for the holidays are nearly done at last. Soon Christmas will be here. But with it came some truly bizarre weather last Wednesday. Yards were filled with a huge amount of debris that comes after such a bad wind event plus holiday decorations that were blown hither and yon. If it wasn’t so creepy to be under a tornado watch a little more than a week before Christmas, it would be sort of festive to see decorations everywhere. Once it’s all picked and cleaned up, with a little luck we can all take a few moments to relax and celebrate the season with those we love, either in-person, on the phone or with a video chat. The way the weather forecast looks at the moment – but as we well know it could change any minute - we might even be able to visit outside safely and comfortably.  This time of year, memories of Christmases past sometimes overwhelm me. Each ornament, each decoration, each pillow and tree – we have three this year – has its own history. I remember, as I bring them out to fill every spot in our home, what each means to me.  I have a collection of Santa’s that I cherish. Some belonged to my mom. Others were gifts to me over the years. There is even one that belonged to Mary Ann Baryenbruch. A little, sort of tacky, Mr. and Mrs. Claus music box dancers belonged to my Grandma Griffith. It is higher on the mantle than in years past because it’s song, Jingle Bells, appeals to granddaughter Mildred. She would listen to it all day long if we would let her. But we don’t.  Stone-wear nativities are at least child-proof and they are spread out where Mildred’s little hands can reach them. They visit with each other and the Barbies and Beanie Babies, with Mildred’s help, and it’s all lovely. Other nativity sets are placed higher or lower depending more on what could break than where they will look best. My mom’s porcelain nativity isn’t coming out of its bubble-wrap this year. It’s just too precious to risk. I feel bad about that but ever since I told Mildred that Santa is kinda’ Jesus’ cousin, she can’t keep her hands off of any of them. I realize it was a dumb thing to tell her. But she kept asking and asking and asking about who they are. If you’ve spent time with a little kid at the questioning everything age you understand that you will say almost anything to make them happy – and be quiet for a moment. I have to smother a laugh as Mildred follows Gwen around the house asking, over and over, why, why, why, and Gwen eventually replies “Because I said so.” All the glass ornaments are staying in their containers this year. Not entirely because of Mildred. Lucy Kitty has a yearning for all that glitters and I don’t trust her with the icicles I got for Jim and my first Christmas together. I don’t trust either of them with the birds handcrafted by Spring Green artist Kim Russell. They are much too beautiful to risk. My sister Laura embroidered ornaments for many years and they are safe to hang. She used them as gift tags and they were a charming addition to the boxes and bows. I was thinking about my favorite Christmas memories. There are so many it’s hard to point to one. A Christmas when I was very small comes to mind, though. We were living in San Antonio at the winter quarters of the circus but made a trip to Wisconsin to visit with family for the holidays. I remember my sisters and I were very worried that Santa wouldn’t be able to find us at grandma’s house and were more than likely bugging the daylights out of our parents. When we finally made it back to San Antonio, the three of us were stunned to silence when we saw that Santa had indeed made a stop at our house and left our presents piled on the couch. Mine was a huge purple stuffed hippo - the very best thing I could imagine. What makes Christmas, that one and so many others, magical was not the presents or the food or the music or all the other holiday trappings. The magic is love. Which both Santa and Jesus teach us. Be good and share in the love. Have a wonderful holiday. Stay safe and love each other every day in every way. Stay in touch. My phone number is (608) 574-3159 – call or text me anytime. You can also email me at homenewseditor@newspubinc.com or write to me at the Home News, P.O. Box 39, Spring Green WI 53588.  Visit our website at homenewsrv.com Get in touch with Gwen for sports or features at homenewssports@newspubinc.com. If you need a display ad, Dave Pronold can be reached at homenewssales@newspubinc.com or by calling him on his cell at 588-4777. Display ads, or ads that are in boxes, are due by 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. The classified ad deadline is noon Thursdays the week prior to publication for both the Buyer’s Guide and Home News. Classified rates are $13 for the first 10 words, then 30¢ per word for each additional word. Call (608) 767-3655 or email classifieds@newspubinc.com  Legal notices are due by 2 p.m. on Fridays, email them to legals@newspubinc.com Call the NewsPub central office at (608) 767-3655 for subscriptions and all other information Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, although afternoon hours can vary. Closed Fridays.