Christmas Past. Do try this at home. Sleep soundly giving all worries and concerns to heaven . . . drift back with dreams of home long ago, drifting across your spirit like a silent midnight snow . . . when Santa was as real and true as the miraculous stars sparkling in a cold December night sky. . . when your parents were young and vibrant . . . when gatherings with siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends were celebrated in new winter clothes, shiny boots and a prized, much-asked-for doll and game. Christmas! Twinkling lights on a tree! Music! Holiday stories! Carols! Laughter! Parties! Anticipation! A Christmas feast! Midnight Mass! Hot chocolate! And Christmas Morning! Pancakes and Presents! Glorious, glorious presents!
It’s true. Christmas does not live in a box, wrapped in the shimmering finery of snowflakes and bows. Christmas lives in the Spirit . . . in a joyful shout of “Merry Christmas!” . . . in an act of generosity to help a family in need . . . in an invitation to join a Holiday party . . . in the gift of Children who truly Believe . . . in community traditions of Parades and visits with Santa . . . in an unexpected gift! No it doesn’t live in a box – it lives in the Spirit behind the Gift – a symbol of love that keeps alive the memory of Christmas!
Christmas memories are brought back to me with a pair of earrings from Thompson Jewelry or with an ornament from my mother purchased at Utterly Yours – both from shops that are no longer here like Macs Department Store and Armour's Five & Ten and the old Baldwin Drug Store. Shops and restaurants we loved to visit and share.
That’s why "Shopping Local" is much, much more than a slogan.
I find Christmas memories in a favorite necklace from Whidby Jewelry that Ben wrapped in a box with a brick in it so that no one could figure out what it was . . . I find it in a bag a Alicia knitted for me during her class at Sartoria Monica . . . I find it in a coat from Amelia’s that Lydia made sure I’d get . . . in the Grinch Gourd painted by Molly from RedDoors Studio, in a Vera Bradley bag from Madison Gift Mart & Café for Faith, in the shelves that house our television from Harris Furniture . . . in ornaments from Creative Mark and Laughing Moon and Le Petit Jardin. . . in a ring from Artisan Alley . . . in my clogs from Barkin’ Dogs Shoe . . . in the bow at the top of my tree from Gussies House of Flowers . . . the list goes on.
All of these small Christmas treasures are made all the more special because they were purchased locally, right here at home, in my community, from people I know as friends who share delight in the spirit of giving and the knowledge of a Christmas secret. When you shop local, you not only find the perfect gift – but you share the Spirit of Christmas by helping a small business stay alive and vibrant. And, most likely the shop keeper is someone you know or is in fact a good friend. Shop Local. It’s much, much more than a slogan. It’s a way each of us share the Spirit of Christmas by building up our local economy. So this Christmas Season, do your part and discover the delight of spreading Christmas Spirit throughout the Shops and Restaurants in Morgan County! Merry, merry Christmas to all of you and let’s make this the most successful Holiday Season Ever for our local businesses! And, that’s the Buzz on Biz this week! God Bless!

Printed in the December 8, 2001 edition.