Donna's new job...

[anneintoronto]

This morning, I dashed past the tree, on the other side of the street -- partly because it was extremely cold outside and partly because I was late for work...  But I came to a dead stop, after taking a quick glance!

Another construction paper loop chain, a really long one, now in blue, white, red and green, circles the tree -- perhaps a chain to unite the different religions, in this holiday season.  And, a fairly large Peace Symbol -- about 8 inches across!  I think it's probably made of the same dough that my gaudy dough star    is...but I wasn't close enough to really be able to tell...  It's heavy, isn't moving in the wind very much. So the decoration count is up to 8 items!!  It's really pleasing that all the items are homemade!  And that they are all still accounted for!

I think the main bulk of the children had already passed and I was really running late, so didn't pause long, but there were still 12 of them, plus minders, and the children were pointing and running around.  Obviously still pleased!  I was still feeling a little guilty at the problems this is causing the crossing guards...  But, after chatting with the lady crossing guard, it would seem that they really don't mind and are interested in the tree, too!  So I feel somewhat relieved.  And so off I went, trying to decide which decoration I should put up tonight....

Anne in Toronto  One funny little sidebar -- there were patients, out in our waitingroom, talking about the tree!! 

[Wing Goose]

How lovely that sounds Anne!  So happy that you
have help.

       
        Lola

[anneintoronto]

I’m back!  It is really just too cold out there!  But going down the stairs and walking fast over to the tree, kept me fairly warm.  When I arrived, I was disappointed to see that two decorations were missing – the big Candy Cane and the Star of David...  Nothing else disturbed...  The first – it doesn’t matter – it had been seen and enjoyed, had become part of the memory and that was enough.  But, I worried about the Star of David...  I didn’t want this tree to turn into the focal point of some misguided feelings about a specific religion.  Frankly, to me this tree isn’t about religion, it’s about a time, when people should feel generous, should include their neighbourhood in their thoughts, should try to treat everyone decently and equally...  And, I do believe that those are premises of all religions...and should be the postulation of every person, attempting to get along in this world.

My Dad, who a lot of you knew in this group, would have been 95 today...died four days later, last year...  I’ve really been missing him all day, thinking about him, and when I realized that part of the whole was gone, I thought back to what he would have advised.  And right off, I knew exactly what he would have said to me, “Don’t dwell on it.  Do something about it.  But don’t throw blame around!  Assume that some poor soul isn’t able to get past their confused feelings, to accept that all people, religious or otherwise, are just that, people!  Never blame!  Try to find some way to resolve the problem, at the same time teaching others what happened and what would be better.â€�  Boy, Dad, that’s a hard one, when no one even knows I’m decorating this tree...  So I decided to leave the thinking until I was in a warmer place – where I didn’t have brain freeze – and to ask for help...from you folk...

Tonight’s ornament is something my Dad gave me on Christmas Day 1960.  It was Christmastime and I wanted a stuffed English Robin.  I’d recently learned that I had an English cousin, who was born just 2 days before I was and she’d told me about their little English Robins on her Christmas card to me.  I have no idea why a 10 year old girl would want such a thing for Christmas...but I did...and my Dad seemed to sense that it was important...  So he made me one...  My Dad, not all that handy with his hands, made me a beautiful English Robin!  It was the only present I paid any attention to on Christmas morning.  I adored it and have always treasured it.  The thing that strikes me now is that I knew that it would be there under the tree.  That’s how close we were...always...why I miss him so much today.  Anyway, my gift to my neighbourhood tonight was that stuffed Robin.  I felt strongly that it was really important, especially on this day.  It’s about 10" tall, so will be visible and really colourful, cheerful.  So up it went...as high as I could put it...not because I don’t want someone to take it, but because I want to be sure that it can be seen by everyone out there!  It’s a very special Robin!  *grin*

So, I’m back home and frozen stiff...but very content.  The tree looks good...just a little vacant.  So now I have to find a way to find a way to communicate to my neighbours, that we must get on with loving one another, behaving as we should at all times, but especially now.  I think that I am going to be up really late, as this is a toughie!  So...if any of you have any suggestions, I would be really happy to consider them!!  It has to be visual, simple, clear...  Something that hopefully everyone will “getâ€� the general idea and it has to be easy enough for me to make... Don’t forget that last part!  I’m not the most clever person with my hands! My first glimpse of an idea is something that includes the Star of David and the Peace Symbol that is still shining out from the trees...  The missing and the general idea of acceptance, which is what the Peace Symbol grew from...  Just a little idea...  Anyone?

Thanks in advance – I know that you are all good people and that you are all clever people... 

Anne in Toronto

[Dumpsterkitty]

So, I’m back home and frozen stiff...but very content.  The tree looks good...just a little vacant.  So now I have to find a way to find a way to communicate to my neighbours, that we must get on with loving one another, behaving as we should at all times, but especially now.  I think that I am going to be up really late, as this is a toughie!  So...if any of you have any suggestions, I would be really happy to consider them!!  It has to be visual, simple, clear...  Something that hopefully everyone will “getâ€� the general idea and it has to be easy enough for me to make... Don’t forget that last part!  I’m not the most clever person with my hands! My first glimpse of an idea is something that includes the Star of David and the Peace Symbol that is still shining out from the trees...  The missing and the general idea of acceptance, which is what the Peace Symbol grew from...  Just a little idea...  Anyone?

Thanks in advance – I know that you are all good people and that you are all clever people... 

Anne in Toronto

I personally would hope that the missing items were on temporary loan from their owners and needed to return home.  But I can be a bit of a Pollyanna at times.

The only thing I can think of that would be "easy" is to find an appropriate picture or card that could be printed in many multiples, punch a hole, tie on a ribbon, and add it to the tree.  For each item that's removed, add X number of replacements without comment.  If it happens again, repeat.  The message will get through.

And thank you for sharing this with us!

Ei

[anneintoronto]

1)  Santa      Gone...
2)  Snowflake    Gone...
3)  GD Star    Gone...
4)  Candy Cane    Gone...
5)  Star of David    Gone...
6)  Construction Paper Loop Chain - red/green/yellow    Gone...
7)  Longer Construction Paper Loop Chain - red/green/white/blue    Gone...
8 ) Blue and White Peace Symbol    Gone...
9)  English Robin    Gone...
10) Empty tree    Still there...

Before anyone's blood pressure soars to new heights, let's just stop and think.  Although I encountered a sad scene this morning, although the children passing were disappointed, this bare tree tells a tale of it's own...

It had a visitor last night and for a reason unknown, this person decided that *he needed these things.  There was no destruction, debris.  Just the end result of someone muddled, who needed to have those 9 decorations more than the neighbourhood did.  Why?  We might never know...although...  But I'm sure he thought he had a good reason.   

Now, I know it can be judged as just plain wrong.  But if this person just didn't understand, has never had the sense of belonging to the neighbourhood , where are we then?

I just can't feel angry.  Sure, disappointed, but not angry.  How can I let 9 homemade objects get blown out of importance?  How can I see what happened as this person's fault?  I guess my answer is that I just can't, because the neighbourhood has plainly let this person down.  Apparently hasn't included him, has left him on the outside...  Or this would never have happened.

This is a funny old world.  Too often individuals fail to see the whole as just as important as the one.  We come across this every day.  So, this plain tree becomes a tiny, but telling model...  Therefore, I'm going to take this episode as the failure of the community to include all the people within it's grasp and, instead of sitting around, bemoaning the loss of a few tokens of affection, I am going to find a way to tell the neighbourhood what has happened.  So maybe we can make everyone in our community feel they are part of the whole.

And here is where Ei's brilliant idea comes into action: "find an appropriate picture or card that could be printed in many multiples, punch a hole, tie on a ribbon, and add it to the tree.  For each item that's removed, add X number of replacements without comment.  If it happens again, repeat."

I think you are right, Ei, I think that the message might well get through!  So, I guess I'd better get busy.  I think that I will hang up 9 "signs", with a picture and a message about community and all of us in it, and hang them on the tree.  And take it from there tomorrow, depending on the response.  What response, you say?  I don't know! *grin*  Will tell you when I do!  And thank you so much, Ei!!

Anne in Toronto    * It could just as easily been a she as a he!!

[Tokira]

[b the neighbourhood has plainly let this person down.  Apparently hasn't included him, has left him on the outside...  Or this would never have happened.
<snip> Therefore, I'm going to take this episode as the failure of the community

Anne in Toronto    * It could just as easily been a she as a he!! [/color]

I suppose that's a more charitable way of looking at it than simply thinking that somebody is a *JERK*, sigh...
What if "someone" wrote to the local newspaper, saying how much they'd enjoyed the appearances of the ornaments, and sadness that someone apparently didn't like them?
Carol

[Wing Goose]

Anne,
I am so sorry to hear about the ornaments.  I have no clever ideas for you,
but I send all of what little cleverness I have for you to use.
You have a whole lot of goodness in you and I can tell that you got
that from your Dad (probably your Mom too).
hugs to you and all,

       
         Lola

[Donna]

I'd like to think that someone needed decorations for their own tree and borrowed them and now there are happy children looking at their decorated Christmas tree.

I was just at my neighbors for a few hours, (elderly) and put their tree up and other decorations. Margaret said, "oh dear should we decorate it, it looks nice just with the lights!" I said, of course, I'll go get the decorations. Well, after all done, it looked beautiful. I loved the smiles on her and her brothers faces when it was all done.

This is a pic of the tree but it was taken with my cell....no flash, you get the idea. I left there with a smile also!

[MAK]

 

[anneintoronto]

I haven't done anything tonight.  Just too tired after work, family obligations and, yes, some disappointment.  But, I just can't think badly about this brief episode.  It was lots of fun of me, while it lasted and for a few days some neighbours were cheered.  That's great in itself!

It's still early in December, so I've decided to wait a week or so and take another stab at this, because I am very fond of this area -- have lived here for 31 years and everyone has always been very kind and helpful to Kevin and I, and especially to me the last 8 months.  And I really like Ei's idea of a  "card", but I think, with so many people in my neigbourhood being new immigrants to Canada, I'm going to try to spread some light-hearted good feelings, emphasize general good will towards one's neighbours, despite our cultural differences.  Nothing heavy, just some good, light-hearted cheer!  After all, that's how it started out! 

Thanks for your support!

Anne in Toronto

[anneintoronto]

I'd like to think that someone needed decorations for their own tree and borrowed them and now there are happy children looking at their decorated Christmas tree.

I was just at my neighbors for a few hours, (elderly) and put their tree up and other decorations. Margaret said, "oh dear should we decorate it, it looks nice just with the lights!" I said, of course, I'll go get the decorations. Well, after all done, it looked beautiful. I loved the smiles on her and her brothers faces when it was all done.

This is a pic of the tree but it was taken with my cell....no flash, you get the idea. I left there with a smile also!

Donna -- you did a wonderful job!!  Love your photo!  When you do lights, you really do lights!!!  You've spread your good cheer to us, now, too!  Thanks!  Anne in Toronto

[Patti from Kentucky]

Anne, are you out there?  Haven't heard from you in awhile...

Patti

[NoraH]

Hi Patti,

Thanks for asking.  I'm in Iowa, visiting Nora!  We spent the afternoon up in Houston MN, having lunch with Karla and being entertained by Alice the G-H Owl!!  What a wonderful time!  I will be home on the 2nd of January and will set up a Kodak Album to show the photos.  Alice graced us both by sitting on our knees!  What a trip!!

Thanks again for asking after me! 

Anne in Toronto