Live Free and Blog : Christmas

James Friel - the Principal who made a difference

NHLife — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:11:00 GMT

I can’t think of a better Christmas story than the story of Morgan Corliss and her high school Principal, James Friel. Friel is a Principal at Franklin Middle School. He has spent 24 years in education, trying to make a difference in the lives of children.

The opportunity presented itself when Morgan Corliss, a 13-year old student, developed kidney failure. Her mother and sister were both afflicted with the same illness, exempting them from becoming donors. That's when Principal Friel stepped in. His blood type matched and the family chose him (out of two possible matches) to become the donor. The surgery is expected to take place in January.

Morgan developed Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, a rare kidney disease, at the age of four. But it wasn’t until recently that she began showing symptoms of kidney failure and her situation became more urgent. She lost 85% of her kidney function in the past year alone. Morgan just wants to be a regular 13-year old like her friends. Without the transplant, she would have to be hooked up to a dialysis machine for up to 12 hours per day.

So when Principal Friel stepped in and offered to donate, he gave the family hope. And there is no better gift that a person can give to another than the gift of hope. In an interview Friel did with ABC News he said, “If this isn’t making a difference in the life of a child, I don’t know what is.”

Indeed.

Hats off to you, Mr. Friel.

The Secret Santa Society, Larry Stewart's Legacy

NHLife — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:50:00 GMT

This Christmas, I keep coming back to the story of Larry Stewart.

Stewart was known as the “Secret Santa”, a once-homeless millionaire Kansas City businessman who sought out people that needed a financial boost and anonymously gave out cash to strangers. He would seek out people that could use a bit of assistance, often traveling long distances to deliver the goods. He gave to hurricane survivors, families whose homes had burned down, single mothers, victims of tornadoes. But he also sought out recipients on street corners, in Laundromats and in thrift shops. He gave with one condition: that the recipient did something nice for someone in return. Paying it forward was part of the deal.

Larry Stewart passed away earlier this year. But there are new "Secret Santas" following in his footsteps. It may sound like a simple task: set aside a certain amount of money and decide to give it away in increments to people at random. It's not. First, how do you decide whether a person could use the cash? Second, how do you approach them without making them feel embarrassed or offended by the gift? Third, how can you be sure that the person will pass along the act of kindness? A less important point, but one that ensures that Stewart's legacy continues well into the future. This is where Larry Stewart was the master. He instinctively knew who needed the help.

Today there is a Society of Secret Santas (http://www.secretsantaworld.net/). This year, they have pooled over $150,000 of their own money to give away to strangers. They headed out on "Sleigh Rides" - Larry's term for his trips to give away money during the holidays - starting in Phoenix, AZ and hitting four other cities on a tour of giving.

It's inspiring, to say the least. Although it's unlikely that I'll be standing on street corners handing out $100 bills like the Secret Santa army, I think it might be a good year to start small. I'm one who believes that everything you give comes back to you - even if it is only in the form of joy and a sense of satisfaction in making someone else’s day brighter. And I think handing out hope is really what Christmas is all about. Now I need to get over my fear of approaching strangers.

The Pine Grove Christmas tree?

NHLife — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:52:00 GMT

I have to say it.

I'm a little disturbed that the Parks Department felt that it was okay to pluck a perfectly spry spruce tree from a cemetery - yes, a cemetery - to use as a Christmas tree in downtown Manchester. Not just any cemetery, mind you, but the very cemetery where both my grandparents are buried and my mother-in-law rests in peace. Apparently, come spring, they are going to plant a smaller tree in the spot where this tree stood, but the Pine Grove Cemetery landscape has been forever changed.

Is there any line that should not be crossed?

Even if it wasn't a cemetery tree, an old one even, it was still a live tree. And it's off to its own grave in just a few weeks now. I don't know, call me an environmentalist if you must, but it just sounds wrong to me.

Can't we plant a tree instead? There's a park on Elm Street that could use one. Say, about 50 feet tall?

Strawbery Banke's Candlelight Stroll

NHLife — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:02:00 GMT

I've always wanted to go to Strawbery Banke for their Candlelight Stroll. Maybe I'll give it a try this year. The event just reeks of a "Yankee" Christmas and I love the sound of it. I couldn't think of a better location to wander around luminaria-lit lanes than Strawbery Banke, the location of oh-so-many grammar school field trips from my youth.

It's like, so, vintage.

The historic houses will be decorated with festive finery. You know, the kind of holiday decorations they used back in the day: juniper branches and balsam boughs, dried flowers, orange slices and cranberries. Oooh, I can smell it now.

I read about this Candlelight Stroll a few years ago. It was intriguing to me, but I never could fit it into my holiday schedule that year. For all my attempted antique-collecting and auction attending, I had a certain fondness for Strawbery Banke and its costumed interpreters. This year, the "Banke" is pulling out all the stops. I hear they even have Mabel Storer's 1884 wedding gown on display in the Goodwin Mansion. Although I'm not sure how that applies to Christmas, I have visions of antique lace and silver bells in my head.

One thing that does apply is a display of "Leisure Time" objects. And they are surely not referring to Playstation 3 and Chicken Dance Elmo. The objects, a collection of period toys and games used over the past few centuries, will be on display at the Rowland Gallery, which will be open to the public for the first time this year.

This upcoming weekend, December 15-16, marks the final weekend of the traditional stroll. Visit http://www.strawberybanke.org for ticket information.

Let it snow

NHLife — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:05:00 GMT

It's always nice to have a bit of snow on the ground at this time of year. I'm not one for long cold winters full of ice storms, wind chill factors and snow banks that you actually have to climb. But if you've ever been south of Virginia during the holidays, then you know what it's like to go without snow for Christmas.

Now I realize there have been years that we've gone without snow too. But the beautiful blanket that covers the ground during winter is what helps to complete the picture of Christmas.

I could do without the gloves and hats, the static cling and clunky boots. But I like to snuggle up in front of a warm fire, hot chocolate in hand, while the snowflakes fall gently to the ground outdoors.

Let's face it; we live in a winter wonderland. Don't get so caught up in the misery of a chilly drawn out winter that you miss out on the beauty of it all.

A tradition of ornaments

NHLife — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:39:00 GMT

I used to work with a woman that had a unique Christmas tradition. Every year, she would search for a special ornament (not the dollar store kind, these cost a few bucks, and came from places like Crate & Barrel, Macy's or Pier One). They didn't have to be super-expensive. I think they were usually under $15. She bought one for each of her children (a boy and a girl) who were very young at the time and probably didn't think much about a silly ornament. But the point was that one day when they got married or moved out, she could present them with a box filled with a lifetime of ornaments to decorate their trees.

I remember buying my first ornaments at Wal-Mart or K-Mart when I first moved out. I had to buy garland, a tree skirt, ornaments, the whole kit and caboodle. It cost a pretty penny after adding in the cost of the Blue Spruce tree (I'll never forget that perfectly gorgeous specimen sitting in my apartment). Not to mention the tree topper! My co-worker had started this tradition to save her children the cost of shopping for tacky ten-for-a-dollar ornaments. They would already have a box-full of beautiful keepsake ornaments instead.

At the time, I had a step-daughter who was already 10 or 11. So, I tried to catch up. The first year, I picked up some crafty ornaments at the Goffstown High School Craft Fair that is held before the holidays. I believe the one I bought her was a colorful fish (we used to fish) with bulging eyes. I tried to buy ornaments that were individual and unique to my step-daughter. One year, it was a Pier One Imports rustic elephant (she was into elephants at the time). Another year, we were on vacation in Florida in December. We picked up a Flamingo ornament to mark the ocassion. Last year, I splurged and bought a Radko ornament from Macy's. But every ornament had a story behind it. If the year wasn't on the ornament, I would ask her to please use a sharpie and mark it on the back if possible.

So, I'm in search of an ornament right now. I'm leaning toward a puzzle ball shaped ornament from Crate and Barrel. But I'm still looking for just the right one. It's become a little adventure, to search for the ornament that sends a message or means something to her. She's grown up now, and when she moved out, she did have a tree-full of ornaments to decorate with. It's different now, but the tradition continues.

Last year, my step-daughter had a daughter of her own. And when Christmas came, she picked up a special ornament for her. A new tradition that transferred from one family to another has now transferred to a new generation (only she doesn't know it yet).

It's my turn to pass the tradition on to you.

Button up for the Button Factory open house

NHLife — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:16:00 GMT

Open studios are the best way to get a peek into an artists' studio and take in the creativity that is captured within its walls. I recommend the Button Factory Open Studio because it only happens once a year. I'll share the details below.

Every year, the Button Factory, a mill building turned artists' studio co-op located in Portsmouth, opens its doors to the public one time before the holidays. Visitors will be allowed to wander the halls of this historic landmark. And those halls will be decked, the studios will be buzzing, and the artists will be on hand to share some of their skills and designs to them. Fabric Artist Sarah Minor, an artist who designs delightfully hand-painted canvas floor cloths that were fashionable in homes from the 1700's to the 1900's makes her home here.

Bookbinder Lynne Crocker is also in the building as well as wooden boat-builder Nathan Greeley. The other artists include photographers, a furnitute maker, a metalsmith and several painters. During the open house, there will be over 70 artists showcasing their work in many genres from toy makers and sculptors to jewelers and woodworkers.

The Button Factory really was a button factory from 1880, when James Morley invented a sewing machine that could be used to attach buttons to high button shoes. The business quickly expanded to become the largest manufacturer of shoe buttons in the world. The building was used for a variety of purposes over the ensuing years, until 1986, when Jim Buttrick and Peter Bowers bought the building with the intention of making the space available to local artists and craftspeople.

This year the 21st Annual Open Studio event takes place on December 1 and 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Don't miss this opportunity to purchase unique NH-made gifts for the holiday season.

A carolin' we will go

NHLife — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:48:00 GMT

Have you ever been Christmas caroling? I have. I was about 12 years old and our church group decided to stop by a downtown nursing home in Manchester and charm the residents with our youthful presence and undeniable Christmas spirit (bring on the presents!). We even carried little songbooks, just like in those Norman Rockwell paintings. Unfortunately, I couldn't read the music and it seemed that I was always off-key or out of sync with the rest of the group. As much as I love music, and I do have a Christmas CD that contains everything from Christina Aguilera to Bruce Springsteen to Faith Hill on it, I just don't have a musical gift. I even tried to learn how to play violin (yes, I was a geek) in 6th grade but it just wasn't for me. I felt more comfortable with my nose in a book or tuned in to my "Walkman" radio (it was the 80's). That was just my way to tune out the world. To step into that world and try to make people smile with my voice, well, all I can say is that I tried.

I share this story not to discourage you from caroling, but to encourage it. For me, it was a great experience and I'm glad that I did it. It was definitely a good thing that the voices around me drowned out my single voice. And that is the beauty of caroling. It's a team effort. There is no doubt that we put smiles on those lonely faces (even if they were laughing at us and not with us). In turn, that put a smile on our collective heart. After all, that's what the season is all about.

Have I inspired you to break out of your shell?

InTown Manchester is looking for carolers to sing during the Moonlight Holiday Stroll on Thursday, November 29 in downtown Manchester. I'd like to encourage you to be part of this magical holiday experience. You'll be glad that you did. Call Samantha Appleton at 603-645-6285 to participate.