“Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.”
― Mary Ellen Chase
I haven’t left the house much since returning from Turkey, but about two weeks ago, I bravely ventured out to mail some watercolor postcards to a few lucky readers of this blog.
Just before I slipped them into the rusted blue mailbox outside the post office, I snapped a couple of photos of the postcards, ignoring the bewildered stares from other people dropping off their letters and bills.
On my way back to the car, an older woman asked me, “What were you doing there? Collecting your mail?”
I pulled up the photo on my camera and explained it to her – that I had just sent off fifteen postcards to friends around the world: to Serbia and Australia, to Germany and England, and to all corners of the US. I told her how blessed I feel to have connected with people all across the world, and that I planned to share the photo with you on this blog’s Facebook page later that day.
But when I say I met a woman, I need to take a moment and clarify that this was no ordinary woman. She was dressed, from head to toe, in red. Red scarf, red gloves, red blazer. A red sequined hat sparkled on her head. Two strands of red beads hung around her neck. And from her ears danced a pair of Christmas earrings – silver bells and shiny green ribbon hanging from small red Christmas bows.
“You look fantastic,” I told her. “I love your Christmas spirit.”
“Well that’s the idea,” she said, not without a little spunk.
Her name was Geraldine and we spent the next half hour chatting in the parking lot of the post office. At five o’clock, one of the postmen came and emptied the mailboxes, the sun sank below the horizon, casting an inky glaze across the sky, and still we talked. As it turned out, Geraldine had done a bit of traveling herself. A lot of traveling. She’d lived in Europe for six years, been to Africa, and was now planning a two-week trip to the holy land of Israel.
“You can’t take that trip and come back the same,” she told me. I nodded in solemn agreement.
Then Geraldine revealed a bit more about herself. “In the last three years, I’ve had cancer, lost my house, and got a divorce. But as the song says, I’m still here. I just try to be an inspiration to people.”
Her words – and the tenacity and dignity of her spirit – stuck with me as I returned home that night. They were still there the next day as I took a bus up to Washington DC and sketched a beautiful display of poinsettias and white orchids in the National Gallery of Art. And they’re with me even now as I write this, just two days to go until Christmas – or as they call it in Elf, “the big dance.”
I dropped the ball on Christmas cards this year, but I hope that those of you reading this will accept my sketch from DC and Geraldine’s story as a sort of virtual alternative this holiday season. Because she reminded me of a valuable truth: that no matter what the crazy retailers want us to believe, Christmas isn’t about what we’re going to get or give. It’s about celebrating what we already have: the friends and family in our lives, the blessing of good health, and in some cases, a fabulous, color-coordinated wardrobe.
Just before Geraldine and I said goodbye that afternoon, I asked if I might take her photograph and share it with you here. She consented, but not before smoothing out the scarf around her neck and slipping on her scarlet gloves.
“It’s not too much red?” she’d asked me.
I assured her, believing as strongly then as I do now, that there is no such thing as too much red. Especially at Christmas.
Happy holidays from The Great Affair! I’m wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and start to 2014.
This was really lovely. And your watercolors are just beautiful.
Thanks so much, Abbey, and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas in Baltimore! One of my best friends lived there for three years and I loved getting to know the city a little more each time I visited her 🙂
This is one of my favourite stories on your blog. Thank you, Candace, for inspiring me throughout 2013.
That means a lot, Kaddy! Thank you so much for reading this year, and I look forward to sharing more sketches and stories with you in 2014 🙂 Have a lovely holiday season!
What a great story and what an incredible lady. Also thank you so much for the postcard. Saw it this weekend when I was at my bro’s house, and I think I see it in that picture of yours you posted! Best wishes for the holidays.
Thank you, Anwar! And I’m so glad to hear the postcard reached your brother’s house safely – I hope it reminds you of your own time in the Balkans, although I can’t remember if you made it to Croatia or not? 🙂 Any update on your Hyderabad trip? Fingers crossed the visa comes through soon…hope you’re enjoying the holidays!
I love those random encounters with people. Great story!
Me too, Heather – nothing makes me happier 🙂 Hope you had a lovely Christmas!
Heartily returned to you – the best for 2014. Wherever you are you seem to have the utmost BEST story-telling and random people encounters.
Enjoy your time back at base. Thankyou for the many smiles and wonder at your art during 2013. Best.
The red story is awesome. Gosh, if Geraldine can come through that much ‘down’, we all deserve to be ‘up’ all the time. Our troubles have never been half of what she has been through.
Thanks so much for your comment, Gerald – it’s been wonderful connecting with you online this year, and I hope you’ve had a great holiday season with your family! And yes, isn’t Geraldine remarkable? We both agreed that meeting each other was the highlight of our day 🙂
Another lovely post about yet another special and wonderful encounter. A big thanks to you and to Geraldine!
Thank you, Anja! I’m so glad you enjoyed hearing Geraldine’s story – it was an honor to tell it here.
What a great story happening right here in your own backyard. Great experiences can happen any where on the globe! Sketches ain’t bad either:) Their awsome, as usual:D
I couldn’t agree more, Dad. Meeting Geraldine definitely showed me that serendipity doesn’t care whether I’m at home or away before it strikes…and it also showed me to always have my camera on hand 🙂 Thanks for saying hi here!
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Candace!! All the best for 2014!
Thank you so much, Pauline! The same to you and your family – I can’t wait to see what 2014 holds for you 🙂
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, Candace!
Thanks for sharing your stories and I do agree with you that Christmas is all about being grateful for what we have.
In this instance, I am grateful for making the trip up to Dublin and crossed paths with you. A huge thanks for being a constant source of inspiration and hope.
A big hug,
C
Merry Christmas to you as well, Clarice! I’m equally grateful to have met you in Dublin, and look forward to hopefully crossing paths with you at the next TBEX 🙂 Sending a hug and best wishes for the new year your way!
Geraldine is just beautiful and her story is inspiring. Thank you for writing about her, and also for sharing an important message about gratitude and the true holiday spirit. Merry Christmas to you! To Geraldine, too, should you bump into her again 🙂
Thank you, Gayla! I was truly inspired by Geraldine’s story and her incredible spirit, and had to share it here 🙂 I hope you and your family are having a wonderful holiday season – all the best for 2014!
Just beautiful! Thank you so much for having the courage to ask Geraldine for her photo, it completely made the story for me, along with your lovely words. I also love the sketch. Happy Christmas Candace (and Geraldine if you are reading. More red, I say!) Xxx
Thank you, Sarah! And I’m so glad the photo of Geraldine resonated with you…you’re exactly right – I was indeed a little nervous to ask her for her photograph, but I felt her memorable ensemble spoke volumes about her spirit and I really wanted to include it with her story. I hope you’re enjoying the holidays in Mexico, and I can’t wait to keep following along your beautiful journey in 2014! xoxo
Beautiful story and great timely reminder what is it that really matters. And the sketch on flowers is amazing. Geraldine is a true spirit of Christmas – whatever happens we keep on as live is the most amazing thing that we will ever experience. Interpersonal relations and travel just make it more alive 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind words and wisdom, Anica! Wishing you all the best this Christmas – here’s to an adventure-filled 2014 🙂
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Candace. You’re an inspiration as always, as are the people you share with us! Have a terrific New Year! You know, there’s actually something about “New Year” that makes me want to put it in all caps…so
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 😉
Thanks so much for the Christmas wishes, Elora! They are much appreciated. I hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday season so far as well, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds for you in 2014 – please know I’m wishing you all the best for your book, I can’t wait to read it 🙂
Such a sweet story! I really love those little moments of connecting with a stranger, especially at this time of year. You’re right, Christmas is more about the spirit and feeling of it. I learned that more than ever this year living in Korea, a country that doesn’t really celebrate Christmas, at least not like we do at home. We had to create the holiday spirit for ourselves and it made me appreciate everything that much more.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Kaleena! I loved reading about your Christmas in Korea (that light display was especially stunning!) and am so glad you and your friends managed to make the most of the day, despite being so far from home. I have a feeling you’ll look back on this Christmas many times in the future 🙂
What a beautiful Christmas story!
Isn’t it amazing how your travels lead you to these special encounters, even when you’re not even out of the country?!
I hope we will read many more of your beautifully written stories about the adventurous life you’re living in 2014.
Enjoy the rest of the holidays Candace!
I wishes you all the best for the upcoming hear and happy travels everyone!
All the best,
Christin
Thanks so much for saying hello, Christin! It’s lovely to hear from you here 🙂 And I couldn’t agree more with you – travel has absolutely made me more aware of these encounters when I’m at home…it’s often far too easy to assume that because I’m not traveling, I won’t find inspiration or serendipity like I do on the road. Meeting Geraldine – at the post office, of all places! – really reminded me to stay open to people no matter where I am in the world.
It’s been so much fun connecting with you these last few months, Christin, and I can’t wait to stay in touch as you begin your Turkish adventures very soon! Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year 🙂
What a wonderful story Candace, thank you for sharing. These are the stories that make Christmas what it is, just as you say, a reminder of how lucky we are and to let those people in our lives know what they mean to us. Your sketch is amazing! I hope you had a great Christmas and have a happy new year!
Thank you for reading, Laura! I’m so glad you enjoyed the sketch and story – I loved sharing Geraldine’s spirit here with you. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s – here’s to an epic 2014 🙂
Thank you so much for your story. This just melted me today. It was hard being away for Christmas this year, but having my extended family here made it special in a completely different way. Merry Christmas to you!
I totally understand how hard it is to spend the holidays away from home and family, but I love that your Spanish relatives were able to be there with you in Cambodia – how cool is that?! I’m sending a big Christmas hug your way, Carmel – can’t wait to keep following along your adventures in 2014 🙂
Belated Christmas wishes and all that good stuff, Candace. As much as corporations and companies try to turn Christmas into a money-making scheme, I still think this time of year brings out something special in most people and your story just reinforces that belief. The world needs more people like you and Geraldine, but it seems like during the holidays, you shine all the brighter.
I think you’re very right, Steph – Christmas just has a way over all of us, doesn’t it? 🙂 I hope you and Tony had a wonderful time celebrating in Saigon, and I can’t wait to stay in touch and keeping following along your journey in 2014. All the best for the new year! xo
hahah that’s a serious amount of red. Thank you for the awesome pictures of the capital!
– Gotch
Indeed it is 🙂 But Geraldine certainly pulled it off…glad you enjoyed the photos, Nathan!
Aww! I’d love to meet her!
She really was wonderful, Lela – she just had the most positive spirit. Wishing you all the best for 2014!