otoh

I grew up in Louisville and most of my immediate family is still there. I have lived in Florida since 1984, but every year I go home for Christmas. “Home,” it seems, is a relative and elastic term. I have my home and job and friends in Florida. I have my home and family and some old friends (and lots of memories) in Louisville. It’s not the same as those people (in a MUCH higher tax bracket) that have a weekend home at the beach or a summer home in the mountains, but still I know it makes me more fortunate than many.

Amber called her uncle, said “We’re up here for the holiday
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay”
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three
He told his niece, “It’s Christmas eve, I know our life is not your style”
She said, “Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and it’s been awhile”

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses

My parents still live in the house they bought when I was about a year old. I always stay with one of my sisters when I go back home though. Going back home is one thing, going back home would be quite another.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, “Is it true that you’re a witch?”
His mom jumped up and said, “The pies are burning,” and she hit the kitchen
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, “It’s true, your cousin’s not a Christian”
“But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere”

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And where does magic come from, I think magic’s in the learning
Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning

I started a tradition some years ago of giving games for Christmas — board games, card games, party games. In the week between Christmas and New Year my parents, siblings, niblings*, and I get together and play games and eat. We have the big dinner on Christmas day, of course, but we also get together for dinner and games just about every night.

When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, “Really, no, don’t bother”
Amber’s uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father
He thought about his brother, how they hadn’t spoken in a year
He thought he’d call him up and say, “It’s Christmas and your daughter’s here”
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve saying
“Can I be a Pagan?” Dad said, “We’ll discuss it when they leave”

So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold

Soon enough — I’m sure it will feel too soon — I’ll be back home in Florida, back at work. But for now, for a while, I’m going to enjoy being back home in Louisville.

The Christians and the Pagans by Dar Williams

*The word “niblings” comes from the book Family Words by Paul Dickson and means neices and nephews. Since brothers and sisters are siblings….

Technorati tags: blog~personal~otoh