We spent the weekend in Exeter, NH, a place I lived from the mid eighties to the early nineties and a place for which I still hold much affection. An old New England town on a river with mill buildings and a beautiful, bustling downtown, it is the home of Philips Exeter Academy, whose buildings and grounds add to the historic feel of the area. We were there to join my ‘brother’ Mark and his wife Jan as she celebrated her last (or so she said) attendance and chair of the Festival of Trees committee, a charity to raise money for needy children at the holidays. She does this work long distance, from their home in Florida.

‘I saw that one coming. –Karma’

The Exeter town hall is opened up for the event, with 50 trees decorated by local businesses in varying themes and replete with gift certificates for goods and services. Many people who bid via silent auction on these trees are buying them because they’re beautiful, and find out after the fact they come with a bonus! The trees varied from sports themed to Caribbean inspired, modern to traditional, some decorated with kids in mind to some very sophisticated designs. In other words, there was something for everyone. It was a record year for bidding and donations, with some trees fetching $700 plus (with a starting bid of $70). It’s organized chaos, with lines out the door to view the trees and a line up the street to see Santa, located in the gazebo just outside the town hall entrance. But the weather cooperated and people bundled up; there was nary a complaint from an enthusiastic crowd. Steve was especially happy he could buy cookies and brownies at 2 for $1 and support a good cause. And God Bless him, he helped deliver some of the trees the next day.

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Mark and Jan made many great friends while they lived in Exeter, and we were able to attend a couple of great parties over the weekend. I also joined Jan and her friends for the Holiday House Tour.

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Needless to say there were many, many Christmas trees to view and visions of sugarplums will dance in my head for a good time to come. I found the green glass pickle hidden in their friend Linda’s tree, and my gift was my own pickle ornament to take home.

There were other trees this weekend, as well. The ones on Philips Exeter Academy’s athletic grounds, acres of fields and woods with a stadium, tennis courts and a baseball and a soccer field, and trails through the woods for hikers and cross country skiers. Their only decoration was the frost that still glistened on them when I took my early morning walk. These acres were my favorite thing about living in Exeter; I could walk out my door with my cross-country skis and access these woods. There was loop that took an hour or so, and places to extend it to all day if I wanted. And a river that would freeze for skating, too. But things change, as they always do, and the opening in my fence is closed now, my open fields have many tennis courts, and some of the trails have been closed off. It is still a lovely place, but not quite the same. The access to the athletic area is less porous, but still open to the public in a couple of places. Perhaps there was abuse of the area that had to be quashed. Some of us are better stewards of the things we have the opportunity to take advantage of than others, which reminds me of a great sign at one of the open houses:  ‘I saw that one coming. –Karma’

I think my angels knew I wasn’t putting up a tree this year. We have a beautiful one, skinny enough to live in the corner of our living room without having to rearrange furniture, but it just seemed like a lot of work, so I just put up my other decorations. But no tree. The postman came today with an odd shaped package, and upon inspection… Well, I’ll let you see it for yourself below. It came with a wonderful poem written by our very talented friend Charles:

We hope this brings a smile to you

Of a Christmas long ago

Of simple wants and basic truths

We again all long to know

 

May you find the Love and Peace

Of a childhood Christmas past

And may what Linus showed us all

Burn bright and ever last…

 

Merry Christmas

 

– Charles Henry Sherman

So my Festival of Trees is complete, with the most perfect one now in a place of honor in our living room. May we all find a most perfect way to celebrate the joy of the season.

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Peace,

Deborah