Rediscovering Christmas
By Aubrey Wynne
Everyone reminisces about their favorite Christmas: the year Santa left a treasured present, or the season when your family found the perfect tree. It’s this nostalgia that motivates us to create enduring childhood memories of Christmas for our children or grandchildren.
Yet, as the great day draws near, enthusiasm can dwindle. The stress of parents, worried about their checking account balance, overshadows the surge of joy that began around Thanksgiving. Maybe the dip begins on Black Friday when a harried shopping extravaganza begins the race to “buy” the perfect memory.
I have always been known as our family’s Christmas fanatic. My decorations and music come out as soon as Halloween ends. Something about the deep baritone of Bing Crosby or the romantic crooning of Nat King Cole turns me all warm and fuzzy inside. I play my piano three months out of the year. I bring out the traditional carols and practice them October through December.
Yet, as the years crept by, the thrill of the holidays dulled. It was a slow process. First, I stopped wrapping all the pictures on my walls like gifts. The next year I only put up half the decorations outside. Then I stopped pulling out my holiday collections for each room and focused only on the main living area. A few years ago, I didn’t hang one light on the porch or even put a wreath on my door.
I’ll admit that it began after the death of my beloved mother-in-law, Shirley, since December reminded me of my loss. But as I looked around at the rest of my family members, I realized that they also had lost the joy of Christmas. My sister blamed it on the disappearance of our old traditions. My mother accused commercialism.
Then it happened. Our family had adopted a foster child in 2007. Since my husband and I were childless, our niece, Ana, became our focus. Two years ago, she spent the night and helped us put up the Christmas tree. Her excitement was contagious. The oohs and ahhhs as she held each ornament and found the perfect spot on the tree started igniting that glow I had felt years before.
I watched as my husband lifted her onto his shoulders so she could place a giant Barbie doll head on the tree as our new topper. When we were finished, we turned out the living room lights, and stood admiring the colored twinkles and glistening tinsel of our creation. “We made the most beautiful tree, didn’t we?” said Ana, in an awe-struck voice. “My Barbie looks like an angel. This will be the best Christmas ever.”
And that was all it took. A five-year-old girl had restored my spirit of Christmas. She then gradually spread a warm holiday glow across the entire family. Last year, we decided to go back to the basics. Most of our presents were homemade, and we sang carols from an old songbook as mother played the piano. The rat race disappeared for awhile and family values made a guest appearance. And Ana was right—it was the best Christmas ever.
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
Aubrey Wynne
Favorite Christmas Link
This is a website that creates and sells interactive cards and calendars. It can be used year round but I buy the Advent calendar each year. It is a snow globe that sits on your desktop and gives you a fun animated treat each day. One year the theme was an old London Christmas, another we were transported to an Alpine Holiday. Last year, with the Downton Abbey popularity, we enjoyed an old English Christmas.
Word count: 10,000K
Genre/Sub-genre: Contemporary Romance/Fantasy
Age recommendations/maturity warning: None
Synopsis:
Henry, a shy and talented artist, moonlights as a security guard at a museum and loses his heart to a beautiful, melancholy woman in a painting. As his obsession grows, he finds a kindred soul who helps him in his search for happiness. On Christmas Eve, Henry dares to take a chance on love and fulfill his dream.
Buy Links:
Melange Books, LLC: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/aubreywynne/merryxmashenry.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GHWQHYS
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Merry-Christmas-Henry-Aubrey-Wynne-ebook/dp/B00GHWQHYS
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/merry-christmas-henry-aubrey-wynne/1117352015?ean=2940045373494
Excerpt:
“Hey, Henry, you want a little overtime?” the supervisor had asked. “Charlie called in sick and I could use an extra hand. Another rich collector remembered us in his will. We’ve got a pricey piece arriving in about an hour and I’d feel better with some extra security.”
Henry tried to wipe the smile off his face. Five years in the city and he still felt like a country bumpkin. “Sure.”
“The paper says a Rubens. Flemish, wasn’t he? But it’s a small one.”
Henry gave a whistle. “Impressive.”
“There’s a companion painting with it, artist unknown. We’ll have to find a spot for it in appreciation for the collector’s piece.”
An hour later, Henry held a priceless painting in his hands. God, he loved this job.
“The family probably figured they wouldn’t get any money out of the other one. But this one sure is a beauty,” the supervisor said as he reached for the Rubens.
“Yes, indeed,” Henry replied, as his eyes landed on the second painting. “Striking.”
Henry’s boss laughed. “I’m talking about this one, Bud. The little one is worth the big bucks!” His boss headed toward the office to start the paperwork on the new museum pieces.
“Yes, of course,” he murmured, but his attention remained focused on the woman in the larger painting.
She sat on the edge of a rocky cliff, her face slightly turned as if looking over the edge. Her legs were out to the side, knees bent, a long, olive-colored skirt spread around her haphazardly as if blown by the wind. The stormy ocean breakers rushed between jagged rocks then turned into frothy waves that lapped at the sand. The details in the picture were crisp and stark, the color was minimal—just the woman on a cliff with the turbulent water below. But the overall effect created a hauntingly beautiful scene.
He felt her distress, her sorrow. His fingers itched to reach out and pull her from the painting and hold her, soothe her, give her comfort. Henry knew that if she could turn and face him, he would be looking at the most exquisite creature he’d ever seen. His hand shook as he reached out to touch the canvas.
“Are you okay, Henry?”
Henry drew his hand back quickly as if he’d been caught in the act of—of what? Touching a frame? Good lord, he must be tired.
“What? Oh, yeah, I just need some sleep. ” As Henry turned to leave, he took one last look at the woman who had just stolen his heart. Fate had given him a precious gift. He whistled “Angels We Have Heard on High” all the way home.
About The Author
Aubrey Wynne resides in the Midwest with her husband, dogs, horses, mule and barn cats. She is an elementary teacher by trade, champion of children and animals by conscience, and author by night. Obsessions include history, travel, trail riding and all things Christmas. Her debut story, Merry Christmas, Henry, was published in November 2013 by Melange Books, LLC and received Best Short Romance in the Editors and Predators Reader’s Choice of 2013. Her humorous shorts, Pete’s Mighty Purty Privies (Top 100 Laugh Out Loud List on Goodreads) and To Cast A Cliché are published with AlfieFiction.com and consistently make the best-selling list on the UK site. Look for her upcoming novella, Rolf’s Quest, in the February anthology release Love Least Expected.
Keep in Touch with Aubrey:
Website URL: http://aubreywynneauthor.wordpress.com
Twitter (Full URL or Handle): https://twitter.com/Aubreywynne51
Facebook (URL): https://www.facebook.com/aubrey.wynne.7
Goodreads (URL): https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/17695894-aubrey-wynne
Pinterest (URL): http://www.pinterest.com/aubreywynne51/
Other (if applicable): https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AubreyWynne
Coming Soon:
An anthology with a romance genre for everyone.
Place cover of Love Least Expected
Rolf’s Quest
Historical Romance
Baron Rolf Arbrec, the royal wizard for King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, is burdened with a centuries-old quest to break the spell cast on his descendant, Merlin. To lift the enchantment, he must find true love without the use of magic or deceit, something that has eluded the men generations before him.
Finding genuine love is no easy task, even for a wizard, and time is running out not only to complete his Quest, but to give future generations a chance at happiness. When Melissa steps from his dreams and into his arms, he realizes his need for her love runs deeper than just a way to free Merlin.
Lady Melissa Garrick travels to London to meet her betrothed. Along the way, she encounters a man who haunts her dreams and makes her reconsider her destiny. Torn between loyalty to her family and her intense attraction to Rolf, she struggles to remain an obedient daughter. Though she desires him, will she defy her family and turn her back on her betrothed? Or will time run out and Rolf be doomed to a life of discontent and bitterness like his ancestors before him?
Preorder Soon:
Website: http://www.loveleastexpected.com
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Thanks for having me, Kate. I love your site. Did some Christmas shopping while I was here. Happy Thanksgiving to all of your readers and mine.