6 | November/December 2016
Photo
by
Matthew
Wonderly
editor's corner
C
hristmas began when
we unboxed the
Advent calendars. My
family had two—one a red felt
Christmas tree with 24 pockets
each filled with a plush hand-
sewn item—angels, horns,
stars, ornaments—that Velcro-
ed to the tree, but my preferred
Advent calendar was our
Nutcracker Story Book because
I was in love with ballet.
The front cover flaps parted
like stage curtains and revealed
24 small illustrated story books
recounting the story of the
well-known ballet with gold-
threaded loops so each book
could be hung on our real tree
in the living room.
After growing up and moving
on, I thought this tradition of
my childhood was lost until
one dreary weekend in October
I found my very own copy
of the Nutcracker Story Book
at Malaprop's Bookstore in
Asheville, North Carolina.
The holidays are like that.
Magic lives within the
ordinary. You notice the
friendships in your family and
the family in your friendships.
You may have noticed the
people who appeared when
you needed them most in
the aftermath of Hurricane
Matthew. We live in a strong
community full of caring
neighbors, great resources
and ever-almost-always the
exceptional human spirit.
This holiday, celebrate what
can be celebrated. I'm grateful
for the chill in the air, the smell
of pine trees and all the holiday
cards that arrive in the mail.
Enjoy this time—these special
days—to eat, drink and be
merry and spend the holidays
with the ones you love.
In peace, light and love,
