String

It’s kite flying weather.  Everyone is out flying them.  It is fun to do, but dangerous for people on Motorcycles.  My husband has to put up this little antenna that was put there to catch kite string while he is riding.  A number of times Motorcyclists have been seriously injured or killed by kite string cutting their neck.  Well, yesterday I was driving home from picking Ben up from school and I ran into a kite string.  Well I thought it was just the string but by the time I got home...I had the whole kite hanging off the back of my car and a 100 yards of string. 

Ok, side note.  2 minutes before I ran over the kite string, I just asked myself “now where am I going to buy string for stringing popcorn to decorate the tree”, then not a second later I had a wad a string in my hand.  Funny huh?  Then when I got to my house, a kid came around the corner and grabbed the kite and went into the house next to mine… no smile…nothing.  I said “sua” which I think meant “yours”, maybe he was pissed that I drove away with his kite, but I thought thank god I was in a car cuz that little shit could have killed someone and then I thought “String”!!!!!

Secret Santa

So, I did just that.  I started to work towards saving xmas.  We woke up and bought some Red & Green paper to make paper chains with, wrote letters to Santa, and shared some time dancing and singing to xmas music.  The kids were happy and I was fulfilled.  Then we were taken by surprise as someone special gave us a Christmas tree and a big bag full of beautiful decorations for us to build our Christmas tradition.   I must have skipped all of the way home to the kids holding the bag and box.  When I showed the kids we immediately dug through the sack as if Santa left it on the floor Christmas morning.  There were Lights, bulbs, angels, bows, and a wreath to decorate our home with.  Thanks to you our Secret Santa, it is going to be the best Brazilian Christmas and by the way, the tree is Perfect!

Brazilian Xmas Checklist 2011

Xmas tree

1 stream of lights around window

Cookies & carrots for Santa

Xmas presents for Kids

Make gifts for the family

String Popcorn for the tree

Letters to Santa

Buy Zooey Deschanel’s Xmas Album

Start New Traditions & Teach the old ones

Limit the reality to their precious Age.  Don’t let them grow up too fast.

-I was writing this tonight just as a list to remind myself to make this xmas special. Time flies here in Brasil and if I don’t, like every other holiday, it will go by unnoticed. This used to be the most special time for me growing up and I hope I can share this feeling with my kids.  Christmas, it’s the feeling of wonder and surprise, seeing snow on the ground, the music and the lights around town. 
As an adult, I grew away from the craziness that surrounded xmas.  I was disheartened by the buying, the worry, and the consumption.   Then living in Brasil, I felt so distant from my world & confused by cultural ideals that at many times when I didn’t know what to do… I did nothing. 
Children only see life through the world that we show them and the innocents that we allow them to hold.  I guess my xmas wish this year is to allow myself to see life through the eyes of a child again all year long.  I am so blessed to be a mother.

 

Happy Birthday to a Wonderful Mother, Grandma & Friend.  I love you.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again. The details of living in Brasil or probably any foreign country you can be depressing at times. It is a great life if you choose to focus on the big picture.