Hal and His Christmas Handiwork

     On Saturday, while most of us were involved with strands of Christmas tree lights, our neighbor Hal sat in the schoolhouse with a gigantic roll of red ribbon and a pair of scissors.  With a few snips here and a few folds there, he was fashioning big, festive bows for the wreaths that would go on the windows at the church –  all thirteen of them.  Oh yes… and two for the double doors at the entrance!
     The wreaths were made by a group of women in the Vancouver area that includes Bradley’s mother.  I’m not sure if it’s a church group or some sort of women’s auxiliary, but it’s their tradition to make wreaths at this time of year and sell them as a fundraiser.  This is the second year that Bradley has put them up at the church and if two years can be said to establish a tradition, then Oysterville has a new and delightful one.
     Although I had not seen Hal make the bows last year – in fact, I don’t think I knew who made them – the ease and skill with which he completed each one did not surprise me a bit.  He is one of those folks who “has an eye” for the artistic, whether it be the presentation of a Friday night appetizer offering (he cooks, too!) or a flower arrangement for vespers.
     He and his wife, Diane, were in the nursery business for years which could explain part of it.  Plus, Hal is a sculptor with more than a passing ability.  I’ve seen a few of his pieces at their home and they are wonderful!  Of late, Hal has been catching the early bus to Astoria and hiking the hill to Clatsop Community College to take a class or two – ‘keeping his hand in,’ so to speak.
     With wreaths and bows and lighted trees, Christmas surrounds us here in Oysterville.  And, the best part, of course, is that every bow and every light reflects a sense of community and neighborliness.  The Christmas spirit is definitely alive and well here in Oysterville!