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Christmas 2003 There is something in the wintry December weather that seems to bring in a tinge of nostalgia, optimism and positivism. No matter how turbulent some days of the fading year could have been, they somehow always seem destined to happen; every single moment of every low point during this passing year suddenly seems so right. Like when we started putting up our tree and holiday decors today and I felt Cara's uncontrolled excitement and saw such feeling of awe in Mac's eyes, I swear I have instantly labeled 2003 as just another one of those great years for our family. And all the negative feelings attached to this year's contributions to an ever growing list of misfortunes, such as my vehicular accident and the fire that razed to the ground the house where Arlene grew up at back home, are swiftly starting to vanish -- hopefully, for good!
Quite frankly, it hasn't been that bad. More days were sunnier and calmer at home and at work. I vividly remember watching the kids at the dinner table in countless occasions during the year and I recall making mental notes that such moments of laughter and peace would always be priceless. I watched with so much admiration my little girl helping her Mom prepare our thanksgiving dinner this year and I saw a lady beyond her years. I listened to my little boy's stories about super heroes and wild animal friends he would fantasize about and I noticed his growing wisdom that betrayed the innocent image I usually labeled him with. And most Sundays of the year have been rewarding as Arlene and I were able to volunteer our time molding the spiritual lives of kids in the religious education program of our parish who want to know more about and be closer to the Lord, whose birth is the reason for all this jubilation and celebration in December, just before the year is finally over.
I look back now and realize that, despite our sporadic tragedies during the year, there indeed are blessings to count and be thankful for, especially the good fortunes bestowed on our little ones. Like, Cara had a fantastic year in school. She started the year by becoming the first 4th grader in many years to win their school's Spelling Bee contest that featured brilliant spellers from 4th and 5th grades. She went on to represent her school and finished 7th in the district contest competing with even much older kids from 6th to 8th grades in the county. Nonetheless, it was such a remarkable feat and a rewarding experience for a very young student like her. Before 4th grade was over, she had runner-up finishes in two citywide essay contests. She finished 4th grade with the Principal's Medal award for having received straight A's in all her classes throughout the school year.
As a 5th grader this school year, she has started to assume a more dominant role in her school as everybody started recognizing her leadership skills. At the start of the year, she was elected 4H President. Later, she easily won the majority of the student body's votes to become Mayor of Timothyville, a micro-societal structure that allows students to assume technical and professional roles in running their own community inside the school. She also appears these days as an anchor girl of their school's TV program that is aired over Athens on Tuesdays until Fridays. As the more senior and experienced among this year's anchors, she now handles the job with much confidence, charm and eloquence.
Outside school, she pursues her passion for music with violin lessons at the university, piano lessons with Mom at home, and learning new songs to sing at spare time and at school programs where she's become a regular featured talent.
Mac entered school for the first time last August. At first, he was quite overwhelmed with the peculiar structure of school life, which was a far cry from the very liberal, carefree atmosphere he has been used to at home. In his first few months in school, Mac has been able to prove that he could reap praises and recognition from his teachers without even trying to be in the vicinity of being diligent, serious and conscientious, the very same ideals he has been bombarded with by his parents and his sister day after day. Thank God, lately our reminders finally sank in into him as he's been observed to put on his good behavior in school. The only drawback is that, as he has been indoctrinated to repent and be reformed, he has turned to his other classmates and has at times exacted some disciplinary action to the other unenlightened, rowdy members of his crop. You bet this cost us two trips to the principal's office to discuss how to convince Mac that he is merely a Pre-K student for now and will have to go through many years of schooling before he can be eligible to play the role of a class disciplinarian. But through it all, Mac only needs to put on his black cowboy hat (an icon that is fast becoming synonymous with him in school), flaunt the capabilities of his precocious mind, and charm every soul with his boyish grin --- and everything turns out to be just fine. He surely will be fine. He's just an indefatigable, jolly four-year-old kid trying to enjoy life the way a child of his age is supposed to.
As the joyous season and the dawning of another brand new year unfold, we pray that you and your family will continue to be blessed with many wonderful reasons to celebrate and be happy for. May you always be hopeful and mindful that every inevitable inconvenience in life is but an instrument that’ll eventually lead to something better that’s just taking a while to get to you. And may the warmth of love and peace always linger in your hearts not only during the cold, wintry days of the season, but throughout the many, many, many days to come.
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