'Dripless' Candles

     The thirteen wreathes on the doors and windows of the church came down yesterday.  The Christmas tree lights in the churchyard and schoolyard were turned off.  We said “goodbye” to Christmas 2011 and already are talking about what we’ll do when the season rolls around this year.  Chances are it will be different – a brand new party dress for Oysterville in 2012!
     Nyel and packed away our Christmas trappings, too.  It took almost as long as it did to decorate the house three weeks ago.  And I felt much of the same nostalgia as I wrapped each old ornament in tissue paper and labeled the boxes for next time.  We also made note of some of the things we’ll do differently – actual written notes filed in a folder marked Christmas!
     It’s not only that we’ll forget in a year.  That’s probably a given.  But in all likelihood, it will be two years before our house is decked out in Christmas finery again.  Our general plan is to spend Christmas in L.A. with son Charlie every other year, “God willing an’ the creek don’t rise.”  And, if it’s hard to remember from one year to the next, two-year-remembering is impossible!
     My notes include things like look again for dripless candles.  Trader Joe has discontinued our old standbys and the ones from Sur la Table were drippy despite their label.  I’m picky about Christmas candles – they have to be eight inch tapers, just the right color green, and dripless.  My friend Nan in California has been on the quest for me and she and I thought the problem had been solved, but it’s not as easy as one would think.  Maybe this coming year…
       Another thing is Charlie’s stocking.  After fifty-five years, the jingle bells around its perimeter are starting to disappear.  I need to spend some time with replacements and needle and thread.  And then there’s the matter of the tree, itself.  Next time, we should pay attention to the lower branches of the tree we choose.  This year, there was no ‘underneath’ to tuck the presents.
     Finally, my notes say “smaller poinsettias – 4 inch pots?” and “cypress trimmings for greenery; no holly.”  This year’s poinsettias were huge and the leaves fell off way too soon leaving them leggy and ugly looking by Christmas day.  As for the holly – it looks cheerful for a few days but then needs replacing which involves Nyel and a ladder, usually in wind and rain, which makes me too nervous.
     Now the big question is: will we remember to break out the Christmas file in 2013?  Especially, will we look it over in a timely manner?  It is my experience that putting away the party dress is one thing; remembering it for next time is quite another.