Christmas Traditions in Midland, Texas

Someone recently asked me if I thought I would miss Midland. My response was "probably not." But at Christmas Time I get sentimental. Of course there are the memories of the holiday season here. Sadly, as I reflect on many of the things that have meant Midland to me over the years, I realize that most of them are already gone on ahead of me

Riding the escalator to the second story toy department at Walgreens

I always wished I had asked about the massive neon sign that hung above that escalator when they tore down the old store. HI like to envision it hanging on a brick wall in a loft apartment somewhere and the owner loving it. It had a big arrow on it that lit up and words underneath that said something like "Up for toys, clothing, housewares." The only thing I was really interested in was the toys. There was also a very fascinating coke machine up there that my parents never splurged on. But I did get to see it in action once. It was pretty awe-inspiring how it dropped a paper cup, filled it with ice and dispensed a coca cola. 'Hope you wanted a coca cola...cause that's what you got. But it was soooo cool.

Buying Christmas decorations at Gibsons

Aside from being an-otherwordly place in the off-season (something of a cross between Tractor Supply and a modern day dollar store) Gibsons turned absolutely magical at Christmasttime. Gibson elves added to the already brimming and chaotic inventory of the store by creating winter wonder-scenes, replete with flocked trees (ahh..the LOVE of 'em) and tinsel trees (I so drooled over the marvelous things) and every type of bauble known to mankind: tweeting birdy balls, spinny ornaments, and myriads of other flashy fire-hazardy glittery goop. My best friend and I were once left in the store by her mom after being warned to go to the car several times. She circled the block and came back for us. When Gibsons closed down, the old building remained vacant for a number of years, it's oversized parking lot providing practice ground for driver's ed students. Since that time, it has been a gym and is now a Jumping Party. Of course nowadays, we Midlanders get our tinselly thrills at Miss Cayce's Christmas Store. My kids love to go there for warm cookies and cokes, if not for their fascination with all things shiny.

Downtown Christmas Parade

When you grow up in Midland, there's never much to do, so the Christmas parade is always a big deal. As a very young kid, I watched the parade huddled in blankets. As I got older, as most school-aged Midland students were, I think I was more often in the parade than watching it. From Marching Bands, to throwing candy from a church float. The parade was always a poorly publicized unpretentious, if not homely affair, but something we never wanted to miss. Just las year I found out tht it is always he first weekend in December. Maybe that's why it's not publicized...we're supposed to recognize a pattern. Ahhh, well, I'm gonna try to make it out one last year for my kids.

Seeing Santa at Sears

Before we had a mall in Midland, Sears was the place to shop. It had a special room that only opened for Christmas where all the toys were displayed and Santa Claus sat on his throne. Throughout the rest of the year, as I passed the entry to that room, I often wondered if elves were inside working. And if not, why they didn't keep the toys visible all year long. The old Sears building burned and was later relocated to the new Midland Park Mall.

Downtown window displays

One of my earliest memories was walking the downtown sidewalks with my mom to look at retail stores' seasonal window displays. This was before the area turned into the lifeless downtown of today (Yes, they say they are revitalizing it. Ummmm...okay, if you say so.) I don't know what the stores were, maybe clothiers and jewelers and the like. All I know is that my mom made a specail effort to take me and that she would call my attention to the bells pealing from First United Methodist Church as we strolled along. Midland with its tall buildings was fascinating to me. I had to bend my head all the way backward to see the top of the Wilco building. Inside the First National Bank Building, they had the tallest Christmas tree in the world. I always heard that if you rode the elevator to the top floor, they would give you a free coke. I don't know who told me that, but I was too chicken to ever try it. Today, Pioneer Natural Resources, the company that is transferring us to Dallas, occupies Midland's tallest building.

Uncle Al and Santa Claus at Parklea Baptist Church

A shy child, I was particularly coddled by one gentleman in our church. Al Little. My parents called him Al, and insisted that if I was to call him by his first name that I at least add "Uncle" to it. So "Unkey Al" was my guy and was pretty much the only man I'd go to. Not even when Santa Claus himself made an appearance at church could I be coaxed to sit on his lap. I believe I was four at the time when my parents manhandled me to a squalling sitting position on Santa's knee at the threats of not "getting what I wanted for Christmas if I didn't tell Santa." I avoided eye contact with the old man in red, focusing on a raised furry cuff exposing one hairy arm. I knew that arm. It ruined my believing in Santa from there on, but calmed me down enough in the moment that I could tell Unkey Al what I wanted for Christmas.

Christmas at the Mansion

I remember the Museum of the Southwest as a place we went on field trips and looked at exhibits I didn't understand. However, I was fascinated by the place itself. Rumor had it that there was a murder in the mansion long ago. "There is blood on the carpet upstairs," I was told. Hmmm... so THAT's why they never let us go up there. Today, the old mansion is done up right for the holidays. Local businesses decorate trees to fill the place. The Cats Meow Antique store usually does a fantastic display from their very complete collection of vintage findings. One year, they recreated the living room of A Christmas Story down to the leg lamp. But while I am admiring table settings and gingerbread houses indoors, my boys are pulling and tugging me to the train depot where a little old man in engineer cap shows off the collection of working toy trains with the enthusiasm and precision of a cub scout.

Candy Cane Lane

Candy cane Lane was a neighborhood venture someone dreamed up that became a tradition. Somehow they constructed oversized candy canes out of pvc pipe and dryer vents and striped them with red. Every house on the block had it's sidewalk flanked in a pair of the red and white sweets. Legend goes that if you sell your house there, you must leave the canes and the new buyer must agree to put them out each year. Now only a few avid traditionalists remain. But if you drive the street in daylight, you will notice a concrete pad on each side of the pathway, evidence of what once was.

Scrooge's House

I don't remember what street this was in Midland, but it was a highly decorated one. Once again, I think all the neighbors got together and planned to make it the brightest spot in town. There was only one problem: A large vacant, almost spooky looking house at the turning point in the cul-de-sac. There was nothing they could do about the eyesore but put out a large sign in front that read "Scrooge's House." The house remained vacant for some time and the seasonal solution continued to fit. Finally when the house was bought and the new owners moved in, they continued the tradition. How nice to have your neighbors tell you, "We will be spending tons of money on needless decorations but don't you worry about decorating at all. Just sit tight and put out this sign." Maybe I'll try that sometime.

Pull-through Santa Scene

Everyone who has lived here very long knows about a certain house in old Midland with a circle driveway and a big picture window in the front room. At Chrismas every year, a life-size Santa appeared engaged in yet another exciting activity. Santa the skier, Santa stuck in the chimney, Santa watching the game on t.v. The sign in the drive way said "pull through for a closer look." Every year cars full of families lined up to pull through and see what Santa was up to. This remained a family tradition from the time I was a young girl until adulthood. Then suddenly it stopped. We lamented that the new owners didn't keep up the tradition that so many had enjoyed throughout the years. And we continued to drive by that pace, as other Midlanders did, and remembered. Last year, we were surprised to see Santa was back, after all this time. This time, Santa stood before an easel among suitcases and trunks. Around the room were numerous completed works of art. The sign in the window read something like this: "For my Dad. Many people never knew that he was an avid traveller and an artist."

Video Game Room in the Future for Leach Family?

For those of you who know me (which I would assume is all one of you), you’re probably gonna check this blog a couple of times to make sure this is really me writing. Yes, it’s me...no one has captured my account. But lemme just ask you one thing...wouldn’t it be cool to have a room just for video games in my new house?

I know, I generally don’t like the idea of video games. As a mom, I feel that they can be distracting at best, eating away the minds of youngsters and teaching bad habits--you know, like killing people. As a sister, (can I say this?) I have seen excessive video gaming play some serious parts in wrecking some marriages of those girls I love the most. As a family, we have shied away from purchasing anything trendy in this area. I guess we thought that if the games they play aren't the thing right now, that they won't spend as much time on them, and will concentrate on more boyish activities like playing outside. You know, things that require activity and sweat.

But it's been a bit of a downward spiral We bought a vintage atari once for our kids and they thought they were uptown! Next, someone gave them a Nintendo 63, I think it was. (See, I’m so dumb about them, I don’t even know what it was for sure.) There was like one game we allowed them to play on it. The kids, in an attempt to connect with society and ‘be like other kids’ have bought themselves what poor imitations they could afford--various plug-in controller/video games of such things as Fantastic Four and Thomas the Tank Engine. Oh, yeah and there was a golf game that someone gave them. They bought some old Playstation or something at a garage sale recently and now they fascinate their friends with games no one knew existed on a playstation nobody else has. Last year, we finally broke down and bought them a Wii. And it was even a new one. I justified this venture in to current trends by noting that these games were "athletic." Therefor, if I catch them sitting down playing tennis, the game is over. Overkill, I know. But I just have had a little bit of an aversion to video games.

Until today.

Beatles Rock Band. That’s all I’m gonna say.

I know. Don’t hit me. I know you already knew all about it...but well, I had just ignored that piece of American culture. But I played “Hard Day’s Night” on the drums tonight at Best Buy. And now I think we ought to have a whole room devoted to such endeavors as “I Wanna Hold Your Hand." Don't you agree?

Okay, wait... I can justify this. We have been thinking about homeschooling right? And musical instruction is important right? So I said to my kids, “What do ya’ll think if we just do our homeschooling on the Wii?” They were in full agreement, so there you go. Of course my husband was a little skeptical that we could produce an academically balanced curriculum just of Wii material. Okay...if we have to we will add Xbox.

But seriously, the kids were telling me all sorts of neat stuff. Like, did you know they have a Gardening Mama game? Or a Zookeeper game? Sure and there are things to learn Geography and Math and everything you need to know. So I’m all for it. Whattayathink?

So I was looking online for design ideas. Why are there no video game room design ideas? (This question is my lazy way of prompting others to look for them for me, since googling is almost as hard as scrolling through blog entries.) I hope it works. I would love to know what you think would be important in such a room. What games, What furniture? What decor? Fridge? Preferred flooring? Surround sound? Stations for different games at different times by different people and oh! I'm serious here, people. I want feedback. Do I need a poll? I can add one. As long as it has Rock Band 2 on it somewhere.

And let me reiterate, just so you don't think I'm doing this for selfish reasons--the kids said the whole thing sounds good to them if I promise not to hog it. Heck, we’ll get two of ‘em if we need to. Wouldn't want to deprive the kids.

Icky Sicky Ick

I feel like Im camping out in the house. And I’m sick.

Being sick sucks. But you know what? The flavor and texture of Zicam has greatly improved! So there’s a nice little surprise. Thank you Zicam...I almost didn’t buy you because of our previous experience together. Other than, that, there have been no pleasant surprises to feeling like crud.

For instance, in the doc’s office, there was this sign that said “limit 2 visitors per patient.” I didn’t have any. No one came to see me while I was there. So posting that there was kind of like rubbing it in my face. Yep I was alone. For quite a while. I thought it might be kind of a fun place when I saw that the paper covering the exam table was Cat in the Hat. But as I sat down right on top of Thing 1 and Thing 2, I noticed there really wasn’t anything special about it. Thing 1 and Thing 2 were just there in a feeble attempt to comfort me after pointing out that I have no friends.

I did get a nice hip shot though. I remember how I used to tighten up and cry when I was little. Now I try to take it like a big girl. I still hate them. Not because I don’t like needles...I’m fine with giving blood or IV’s. I just hate the burn of antibiotic. So in addition to the shot I am taking two other antibiotics which they told me they would call in for me.

As I walked into Walgreens I realized that there is no time that I feel uglier than when I am sick. I don’t know, maybe it has something to do with the fact that I don’t bother to fix my hair or put on makeup. I guess it’s kind of like, if I’m going to feel bad, the rest of the world is going to have to suffer right along by seeing me this way. Last night I went out to my Mom’s and my sis kind of studied my face for a second. “You look different,” she says, as if she’s not sure if it was intentional or not. “It’s cause I don’t feel good. Plus with all the remodeling all my mirrors are covered up.” “Oh,” she says. “Well, don’t go look in one of ours.” I guess she would have been really grossed out if I had shown her the fur on my tongue.

So now I'm waiting for my husband to bring me lunch. And if he's really good, he'll bring me a prize. Because he knows the house rules: You get a shot--you get a prize. I can't wait!

Two days down. Five to go.

So last Saturday I decided to do a facebook fast. There are too many reasons to enumerate here, but suffice it to say that I was a little obsessed. What? Me---obsessed? I know you're shocked. You'll get over it. I needed to get away from facebook because it was consuming all my time. (The following is going to come as an even bigger shocker to those of you who can't fathom my being obsessed in any form:) Guess what? Other things can take the place of facebook!!! I know! WEIRD! Who'd have thought it?!?!?-- Even the obsessing part. Hooray!

I have become obsessed with NEW things! For instance, did you know that there is this very cool thing called email that works just like facebook except that only the person you are sending it to gets it? Now, of course it doesn't have the stalking factor that I love about facebook. I can only see my friends' responses to me when they WANT me to. But nevertheless, this email thing has it's own primitive charms. Like I said, it is astounding. And believe me, in my facebook deprivation, my friends have been very astounded about just how many emails I can produce in a single day.

So I don't know if staying away from social networking sites is helping me in obsession area. But there are some things I've learned during the facebook fast. (Learning is always good, right?) So here's a few of the things I've noticed since I've been away:

1. I have actually remembered to do some things that I usually forget. (Could facebook deprivation be a cure for A.D.D.?) Chucklehead, you should check it out. It might work for you too.

2. I don't obsess AS MUCH about staying in contact with my friends as usual (This is not a true statement, but I only realized that after I had already written it, and it gives me one more point, so it stays.) And by the way...we are talking about an introvert here...what is my deal with all this reach out and touchy stuff? Is it possible to be an 'I' in real life and an 'E' online?

3. I've had more time for other things (although I've noticed I'm attacking them with the same addictive behavior that some of you witnessed in the facebook arena. (For instance, getting ready to texture, I just couldn't stop masking off my house. I begged my husband to PLEASE start spraying the walls so I could put the tape down. And I admitted I was a green-tape addict. He suggested I get a new addiction.

4. I noticed that when I'm not constantly summing up my life in one sentence statements, I am dying to write something. Who knew that those status updates were satiating my creativity? For every post, there's a story, and while I've not been constantly revealing to the world "what's on my mind" I have had more of an urge to write. I don't know...it could be a good thing, depending on whether you're the writer or the reader of this nonsense.

5. I also found out that some people are texters, some are facebookers, some are emailers, and some are facebook chatters. It is rare that a single person be all of these. I've also noticed that some relationships that exist in one of those realms cannot survive in others. Please don't point out the fact that I didn't mention the 'real world". If it's virtual it IS real right?

Virtuality-- that's why I love facebook. My little world away from the world. See you in five days.

Oops I thought it again!

It happened again. I just caught myself thinking it. It’s still a little bit of an unfamiliar thought for me, so whenever I have it I always stop and reflect. I usually want to share it with someone. I like to nudge whoever is next to me, smile and say in a low voice, “Tomorrow is Sunday! We get to go to church!”

What a change that has been for me over the last few months. There was a time in my life when Sundays were my least favorite day. I dreaded weekends. While the rest of the world was cheering them on, I was left muttering, “You mean it’s here again already?”

We could explore the many why’s of my hating the day: Was it the people you were with every Sunday? Was it the preaching at the church you were at? Was it that you were overworked? Man, I’d sure like to say it was any of those answers. But the truth of it, Sunday had just become a day of performance for me.

No one required it. Sure, I felt some pressure, but I didn’t have to give in. Nope, it was mainly self-induced, much of it brought on by my tendency to offer my services to appease a perfect God. I ignored Him every day and especially on Sunday when I had to take over because I had no time to chat with Him if I was going to get His work done. On Sunday, I also needed to put on an act, so that people would see a “good example” to follow and not a human one. Again, He never asked me to do that. In fact, I have noticed that as a follower, I learn a lot from imperfect individuals who claim their shortcomings and rely on God to make up the difference.

Sundays used to be the culmination of all I lived for. Everything from our family vacation calendar to what clothes I bought were strategically planned because of what took place on Sundays. So services had better have been good. After all, they were the only means we had of judging ‘how we were doing.’ Sunday’s were the test. And so, whether God cared about the results or not, I did. And maybe that was just one more thing to feel guilty about. Sorry, God, to make up for my not caring how You feel, how about I work a little harder and make next Sunday even better? What? You want me to spend time with You? You know nobody really does that.

But now I have found that people do. People do really spend time with Him. People really do fall head over heels in worship of Him. People really do commune with Him every day of their lives, including Sundays.

I have found a wonderful place to spend my Sundays with Him. Yes, there are a lot of people here who are doing it right. They are here because they want to spend time with Him, and their service is sincere. Less emphasis is placed on performance as was expected in the old environment I helped to create for myself and others. More seeking Him and less flailing to please Him goes on here. Here, my heart sings out in beautiful worship with the very spirit of others seekers of Him and failures in life, like me. And it all happens in a setting of uncompromising preaching that shores me up and convicts my heart every time I go.

But it’s not so much the transplant of location that has changed Sundays for me, as much as it has been a change of my own heart. On Sunday, I am there for Him. Not for myself. Not for other people. Not for the work. But for Him. I am thankful to the Lord of the day for allowing me to enter His house tomorrow with awe, gratitude and relief to be there. I truly can say every week that it has been good to be in the house of the Lord.

O come let us worship together!

Psstt---Guess what!!! Tomorrow is Sunday! We get to go to church!

What are you hungry for?

What are you hungry for? And no I don't mean chili cheese fritos, which I am really craving right now, thanks to a friend who just had to bring them up. What I mean is...what is it that you need to have that feeling of ahhhh....satisfaction in this life?

I love this quote by C.S. Lewis. Don't skip it and go on to the rest. For those of you who read my blog and tell me it's the only thing you ever read, let me just clue you in...C.S. Lewis really is a much more noted and talented writer than I, so take a sec and read it. And to the rest of you, stop laughing, Suzette really didn't know and would have skipped his great quote. So here it is:

“Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.”

The band Downhere has a song about Heaven that says, "From the corner of my eye, there's a tear I'm tryin' to cry...but the feeling can't be found. Like a note thrills in a song, when I play it again, it's gone...cause it was never in the sound." Yeah, there's something out there. Something we want and just can't get a hold of . Something we miss, but we've never had. We can almost taste it...we know it's there.

In Heaven, full robust flavors we've imagined...those whose existence we sometimes doubted, will explode onto our palettes in burst of unbelievable satisfaction. Earth's appeals will vanish in the experience of God. Then, we will realize that all we thought we wanted while on earth was actually just a picture on a menu, tasteless and useless to fill us. What flavor and color and satisfaction we experience here on this earth is only to give us a taste of what is to come. And we will never hunger again. What is it that you are hungry for?