A Bah-Humbug to You, Under the Mistletoe
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
(11:48am) Sunday provided the hanging of the greens in the service. Collette had to admit, as they carried in the poinsettias to the front of the church, that it felt somewhat like a fashion show, with the choir, Starr Hobcoggin & Goofy Nickels singing duet, “Bethlehem drums,” percussion, etc. or like some sort of ceremony.
“Work it, Joe!” Mr. Hobcoggin called out to Joe as he passed the Hobcoggin row, during the rehearsal only, of course.
Meanwhile, Joe and OLeif were making the huge poinsettias wave at each other and dance to the hymns while they waited in the back to begin.
This was all prior to Judah’s first sermon at Grace, while he was studying for his M.Div. OLeif and Collette were both greatly encouraged over his discourse on Genesis 3, and of his expounding on Christ throughout the Scriptures, by beginning at the beginning, relating to His coming as a baby in Bethlehem.
Later that evening there was youth group, to which Collette attended once again. Shakespeare was also present and resorted to hissing at his opponent (Samantha Bee), during the ball game set up by Jimmy. This was followed with a discussion and devotional in preparation for looking at the end times in the coming weeks.
Monday was a field trip with Grandma Combs for everyone at home but Carrie, who had a number of papers to write. The day began with the Botanical Gardens and a display of running model trains among poinsettias, herbs, and Saint Louis landmarks in a Christmas scene. There were also birthday presents for Collette from Grandma – a quote book used by Father Tim (Patches of Godlight) in the Mitford series and a white gold heart locket on a necklace, etched with a star on the face.
At the gift shop, Collette flipped through a book on “why cats paint,” and the kids tested out some lawn chairs constructed entirely of recycled milk jugs. Rose bought Carrie-Bri a Venus fly-trap and Collette tried on several of the hand-knit brightly colored finger puppets imported from the Highlands of Peru; she thought she liked the color of the bluebird the best. Following their jaunt around the shop, they followed Grandma to Crown Candy Kitchen, with Joe behind the wheel.
After weaving through the dead western side of the city, they arrived at the corner shop next door to the flat where Grandma played as a child with her cousin (who lived upstairs). All the old homes were in shambles, falling down on top of themselves, where once horse and carriage rambled. Several bungalows were still occupied near Ching-ching’s Old Fashioned Snack Shop close to Angelroot Street. Mom commenced to tell them of Great Grandpa and his stories of the gypsies who lived under the river bridge in the 60’s with their little campfires, and of how he helped heard cattle through the city of St. Louis, and of a gold glass letter bead which he had found lying broken on the walk in front of a shop long ago, downtown, and which still hung in Uncle Mo and Aunt Petunia’s kitchen (once Grandma and Grandpa Combs’ kitchen).
And it was into the shop for grilled cheese, good bowls of hot chili, and Pepsi. Great-Grandma had often eaten there after it opened in 1913, when she was a flapper. There was a plaque on the wall with the listed names of all those who had taken on the shop’s challenge of downing five shakes in one half-hour sitting, for free if finished on time. There was also an old fashioned phone booth inside and a juke box, little booths, untouched by time. They picked up a bowl of chili to go for Carrie before they left.
On the way to Nagle’s, they all discussed the Scriptures, life and death, the Muslims and the glory of God and election. There was also mentioned Grandma’s Oreo Christmas Cows Christmas card, a water-color by Madge Wheels, especially for Grandma. It really was a very good print, and Grandma kept the original. In the shop, after about an hour or so of looking around, Collette settled on a cardboard of gold jingle bells and a recording of 21 Bing Crosby Christmas songs. Rose purchased a “Bah Humbug” black Santa hat for Dad (which he got a good kick out of), along with a necklace of lit Christmas bulbs to string around the top. Joe chose a red Santa hat and a package of preserved mistletoe, which Carrie constructed into a hat for him to wear to choir the next afternoon – quite a comical sight.
At home, Collette prepared to go shopping with the girls, and Dad came home. He told them of how his co-worker had been wearing a red cardigan to work that day just like his own green cardigan which he wore that day as well. Someone commented to him that he was wearing his Mr. Rogers sweater, and when Dad also explained that his co-worker was wearing the same in red, they were known later on in the day as Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Carrie and Collette giggled with him at the thought.
And then Linnea began singing to him:
“An ordinary day
Becomes a holiday
When I’m with you…
H-mmm, h-mmmm.
Even yucky spinach
Tastes like pumpkin pie,
When I’m with you…
H-mmm, h-mmm.
Oh, Daddy, how I miss you.
You’re busy all your life.
I want to hold and kiss you.
Marry me and let me be your wife…”
Carrie and Collette laughed when Dad refused to admit that he was tearing up.
And then there were a couple of miles to walk off at the mall, looking for a party dress for Collette to wear to OLeif’s staff Christmas party. Although nothing was found, Carrie treated Collette to a long black leather coat for Christmas – quite a dandy jacket. If Carrie had been given a title back in the old days of kings and queens, Collette thought that she would be known mostly as Carrie the Generous.
Tuesday they woke to snow, covering the ground in a full sugar-dusting. Quite beautiful. And Joe’s mistletoe was a smash-hit at choir.