8 Christmases in Beauty

Posted December 17, 2023 – Narrated by Carmen

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“Every traveler has a home of his own,
and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.”
Charles Dickens
author of A Christmas Carol – Read Free, Listen Free, Watch Free

Pitching a tent on Christmas Eve under the stars is an old tradition we picked up from a family of refugees.

You’ve heard the story.

In a time of war and occupation – a man and his pregnant wife – are forced to travel long-distance on foot to register. Arriving to their destination the woman falls into labor and every room in the city is occupied. Giving birth in the street is not an option because cars haven’t been invented yet. Seeing their distress, a lovely hotel manager says, “Don’t worry, be happy” and directs the refugees to a nearby stable.

There, the woman delivers a boy. As they count the child’s fingers and toes, a caravan of rich Snowbirds arrive with beaucoup provisions and wampum from afar.

Then, from outta nowhere, a big ol’ fais do do starts up. A shepherd serves up a steaming-hot kosher gumbo from the campfire. It’s all ça c’est bon until word arrives about the law being on the way to raid the camp. So, the refugees skedaddle across the border and live in the shadows as “illegals” until they can return home.

It’s an old story we see playing out every day as people are caught up or drawn into miserable situations. But dwelling on the socio-political details behind the holy-family’s hardships – and without looking further than the obvious religious message – misses the key point which is: Eventually, everything’s gonna be alright.

Pico at Aunt Deborah’s house in the Smoky Mountains

The same for Hanukkah. With a backstory of occupation, war, attacks on free speech and a devastating massacre – a mundane kitchen ingredient comes to the rescue, assuring the people that Darkness is defeated, there is nothing to fear and, eventually, all will be better than good.

The Celebration

The expectation of brighter days ahead is good enough reason to break out the Trailer Christmas box every year and begin a month-long celebration.

Christmas 2016 – Pensacola, Florida. This bauble tree, handmade by my sister Deborah is the first ornament to go up after Thanksgiving.

Christmas 2019 – Festive Window Stars brighten the short winter days.

Cheery scratch-paper decorations make the most of natural light. Some of these were made more than 30 years ago.

The Tree

When the thanksgiving dishes are done we strive to fulfill the pagan evergreen requirement. Long ago, we settled on a live, size-appropriate Rosemary “Tree.”

Christmas 2022 – Chula Vista, California

Christmas 2022 – Beauty aglow in Laser Christmas lights – Chula Vista, California

The Food

The Rosemary tree’s pleasant fragrance is a comfort, especially when we bring it inside on cold, stormy nights. Bonus tip: It’s edible! Fragrant “boughs” from our little tree grace several of our favorite holiday treats.

Preparing a seeded rosemary-herbed bread in the Lekue Bread Maker, Christmas 2018 – Mesa, AZ

Our Living in Beauty Christmas isn’t a laissez-faire hamburgers-and-beer escape from holiday crowds and over-consumption (though we heartily endorse that concept). Even though we travel lightly, we’re fiercely traditional. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Bagna Cauda and roasted roots on Christmas Eve,

Bagna Cauda, Christmas Eve 2022 – Chula Vista, California

and satsuma cake for Christmas Day breakfast,

Christmas 2021 – Chula Vista, California

Jim’s grilled Turkey Cutlets for Christmas dinner,

a homemade loaf or two of pompe à l’huile, a French Christmas tradition from Provence,

Christmas 2016 – Pot-luck dinner at Ho-Hum RV Park in Carrabelle, FL

and piles and piles of Rosette Cookies made exactly how Aunt Lilly from Germany taught me.

Food, in its subtle way, is a whispered prayer for peace.

“In the mundane, nothing is sacred.
In sacredness, nothing is mundane.”
Dogen
Buddhist Japanese Philosopher

Wherever we find ourselves at Christmastime…

A surprise fish-fry, Christmas Eve 2017 – Marathon, Florida

touring the annual Christmas light displays,

Bellingrath Gardens

or, celebrating with family …

Carmen and her dad Allen Perry, Christmas 2020 – Gulf Shores, AL

Christmas 2018 – Campo, California, with our son, Chris, and Cyndy 💕

and dear friends …

*Les Six*, Christmas 2019 – Chula Vista, California

attending a performance of A Christmas Carol,

2019 with Tom Stephenson as Scrooge, San Diego

making homemade cookie deliveries …

or all alone, in a place we’ve never been – strangers in a strange land – quietly preparing a no-leftovers Holiday Feast-For-Two …

we participate in the universal Truth that one pure heart can relieve a world of suffering and oppression, and that a small coterie of inspired rich people can fill every empty stomach, worldwide.

Christmas 2021 – San Diego Rescue Mission

Volunteers honor the prayers of the homeless. Christmas 2021 – San Diego Rescue Mission

We didn’t have to back out of our driveway and live on the road for eight years to hear Heaven and Nature sing, but we’re glad we did.

And every Christmas, from our home-camp in some random corner of the earth …

to your home-camp, wherever it may be,

we wish you a joyous holiday season,

Christmas 2017 – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

an outstanding New Year,

and Peace on Earth, eventually.

Merry Christmas!

And God bless us every one!

You can see our exact route on this map.

*photos in this post (unless otherwise noted) were taken and copyrighted by Living In Beauty.

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