Holiday Gift Guide – Day 15 – Christmas Memories


Detail of the Christmas Tree I– 2007 – C. Hamsher

As I hit the halfway point on the Holiday Gift Guide it occurred to me that the best gift from any Christmas has always been the memories the season brings.

This came to me as the modern lady and I were driving to Huntington today to pick up our Christmas tree at Lavalette Nursery.

This is a rediscovered tradition in our family. I was raised in Huntington and every Christmas I remember all of us piling into the car and driving up 5th Street hill to pick out the tree. The place was simply magic – the brisk air mixed with the smell of fresh-cut pine trees only served to increase the excitement of knowing that we would then go back home and pull out all of those old boxes from attic that contained the decorations.

We started getting our trees at Lavalette again last year after searching high and low for a flocked tree. I had remembered then that Lavalette did flocking years ago and after the modern lady made a phone call it was confirmed and we had one on order. It was simply gorgeous.

We decided to do the same this year. As we drove down I-64 today I could not help but recall all of those Christmas trees as a kid and some of the same excitement I used to have back then returned.

Now let me be clear – I sometimes pride myself on being a bit of a curmudgeon. I tend to bah-humbug a bit and the family has come to expect it. It is really not that I don’t like Christmas – but more simply that I am a creature of habit and any holiday seriously wrecks my routine.

But today I enjoyed going to get the tree. We even stopped at the Huntington Mall on the way back and did some Christmas shopping for the kids and I enjoyed that too.

When we got back home we pulled out all of those old boxes with the decorations and trimmed the tree. I could have done without the frustration which came while untangling the lights and tinsel but the rest was nice – very nice. We both tend to stay quite busy and time together just doing stuff does not come too often. We had a good day and the tree is, once again, gorgeous.


Detail of the Christmas Tree II– 2007 – C. Hamsher

But more important, we now have a new memory – the memory of today. One of decorating the tree, buying the presents , laughing, loving and just being together.

It will likely be the best gift I receive this year and certainly will be the one which will last the longest.

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Trains & Train Stations


Trains Tickets: Union Station – C. Hamsher – 2007

I miss traveling on the train. Although there is still limited service out of Charleston the schedule just doesn’t seem to meet my needs anymore. So I end up flying, or driving if close enough, and do not have near the enjoyment I used to have taking trains.

What I miss more than taking the train are the train stations. Glorious places full of mystique and interesting people. I have noticed that the people in train stations are so much more relaxed than those in airports. Airports are simply a holding area and the people may as well be cargo. Train stations seem more like part of the destination, even if just a layover spot, than do airports. I have had some great conversations in train stations and have worked to escape from some really bad ones in airports.

When visiting Washington I always stop by Union Station to just walk around or to get something to eat at America. It’s always a relaxing way to spend a little time, a great place to people watch, and the food at America is great!

When we were in Washington earlier this month I stopped by Union Station, as usual, and shot the picture above. I printed it and have it on my desk as reminder that someday soon I need to get a ticket and take the train – again.

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Black Friday

From this evening’s newspaper story I gather that even Karloff and Lugosi would have been terrified of the crowds of frantic shoppers out Corrider G at Southridge today.

As for me, I spent the day on the other side of the retail equation manning the shop with The Modern Lady. We stayed busy – but we weren’t insane. It didn’t take anyone an hour to check-out and no one had to elbow their way in to grab a Russel Wright dinner service.

We had some great folks come in from DC who bought a 1950’s Crosley radio and we had a nice chat with them. Our friend Joe came in and bought a light fixture for his new house and we discussed his remodeling projects and the joys, trials and tribulations of decorating.

I am a traditionalist and don’t get the Christmas decorations out at the shop until Thanksgiving week and so we unveiled our selection of vintage trees, ornaments and other trimmings today. It’s always great to see folks smile as they look at the vintage aluminum Christmas trees. One young couple, who have been long-time customers of ours, bought the first tree this morning and were going to go home and put it up before a party this evening.

Then, to top it off, tonight was ArtWalk and the crowd was pleasant as always. We opened a show of Rebecca Burch’s work and it was fun to see folks reaction to her art – especially her family who were very excited for her.

All in all a very nice day. I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to going to the shop again in the morning.

I wonder how many people who worked or shopped at Southridge today feel the same.

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Preparing for ArtWalk and the Holiday Season

I have just been snowed under getting ready for the Holidays, this Friday’s ArtWalk and all that those preparations entail.

One of the things we do at our shop is hold our Holiday decorating and Christmas-specific items until Thanksgiving week. Call me a traditionalist, but I just don’t see the point of having trees, decorations, and all of the other accouterments out so early. One of the “big box” stores had their Christmas offerings out in August.

What’s next – fruitcake on the 4th of July?

So we have spent the past few days putting up the decorations, assembling the aluminum Christmas trees (yes, we have vintage aluminum trees – many of them actually) and generally getting the shop ready for the Holidays. Just like at home, decorating for Christmas first means dragging out a bunch of boxes and generally making a big mess. With a little more work on Tuesday morning we’ll be ready to open at 11am.

We are also preparing for the Downtown Charleston ArtWalk which takes place this Friday from 5-8pm. We are opening a show of works by Rebecca Burch which you will not want to miss. Her art is fun, exciting and playful – in fact the centerpiece of the show are nine photographs entitled Play.

In addition, we have art from Felix Krasyk, Jennifer Susman, William D. Goebel, Rob Cleland and a fabulous sculptured clay nativity set created by Wilma Burky in 1961. All this and the usual assortment of 20th Century Treasures!

The Purple Moon is but one of ten galleries, shops and artist studios taking part in this month’s ArtWalk and we all hope you come and join in the fun. There will be wonderful art, food, drink and intelligent conversation.

Or you could drive out Corrider G to Wal-Mart.

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Rough Reentry

I know I promised to post more today on the DC trip but reentry back home was not quite as smooth as I had hoped.

How is it that so much to do can pile up in just a few days?

I will be back to regular posting on Friday after a reevaluation of my reentry concept.

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