Traditions

By Christine Tailer
HCP columnist

Some traditions stay the same, no matter how much time passes. They continue unchanged, flowing from generation to generation. I will always set a candle in the center of my pressed tin holiday wreath, just as my mother did as far back as I can remember, and her mother did long before my childhood memories.

Other traditions stretch and bend. They adapt with the passing time. This is the case with my holiday photos. I've always taken a family photo this time of year, and I’d share it with family and friends. When the children were little, I'd dress them in red and pose them appropriately, but the children aren't little anymore. They are now grown with families of their own, and have moved off into their own worlds. Gathering them all together for a group photo is just not possible.

We do, however, manage to see this one here, and that one there, and exchange hugs and holiday wishes, and I've thought of doing my own version of a Photoshop picture of us all together. This would involve making black and white copies on our printer and then literally cutting the images out and pasting them together, but somehow, I have never gotten around to it. Maybe I will next year, but this year Greg and I decided to try something different.

We had heard that Santa would be stopping by the farm supply store, and we asked Kitty if she would like to go up town and meet him. Tail wagging, she hopped up into the Jeep for the ride up town.

Kitty loves the farm supply store. There is always a treat waiting for all visiting dogs at the checkout counter, but Kitty has somehow won the hearts of everyone who works there, and I believe that she might have become rather spoiled. As soon as we pass through the front door, she heads right for the checkout counter, sits herself down, and waits for a treat. The store personnel oblige. Only then can we do our farm supply shopping.

The parking lot was full. After her initial checkout counter treat, we headed toward the back of the store and through the opening into the large space where water troughs, fencing, gates, and other such large farm supplies are kept. No sooner had we passed through the large opening, than two ladies offered Kitty a pup cup. Now this was an unexpectedly special treat.

We continued up the wide aisle between the large farm supplies, and there, to our right, we met two more ladies displaying a wreath that had been painted on a board. There was a hole in the center of the wreath, through which passing dogs could stick their heads in exchange for another proffered treat. Kitty happily ate the treat, but refused to put her head through the hole. With smiles and well wishes, we continued on up the aisle.

And then we saw Santa, off to our left. A little girl, dressed for the season, was seated in his lap. I could tell that they were engaged in a serious conversation, until, with a big smile, the little girl slid off of Santa’s lap. She turned to wave good-bye. Santa's eyes twinkled and I could see a huge smile half hidden behind his fluffy white beard.

Kitty held back. She had not seen such a person before. He asked her name and then gently called to her, treat in hand. She still held back. I went up beside Santa and sat on a hay bale. Kitty watched, and then Santa did the very perfect shy dog thing. He got down from his chair and knelt on the floor, at Kitty height, treat extended in his hand.

Kitty tentatively approached, took the treat and gobbled it down before the photographer could snap a photo. More treats followed more missed photos. Kitty was fast, but finally the photographer caught just the right image of Santa, with his hand extended, me laughing on the hay bale, and Kitty looking curiously at the camera.

My heart was full. Everyone at the farm supply store was smiling and sharing holiday cheer, and we now had the perfect photo to share with family and friends. Some traditions may change, but the spirit of the holidays will continue all around us, forever.

Christine Tailer is an attorney and former city dweller who moved several years ago, with her husband, Greg, to an off-grid farm in south-central Ohio. Visit them on the web at straightcreekvalleyfarm.com.