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(The Mystery Guest Blogger and I are on a trip as I write this. With Trang out of grad school for the holiday break, we drove to Houston from our home in deep South Texas, then spent the night in there so she could see a little bit of the Vietnamese scene. We are now in Orlando for Christmas with our son and his family.)
Christmas giving – every year preachers talk about it and parents tell their kids that it’s better to give than to receive. My son and daughter-in-law decided to have their children learn it experientially. What began as a family project three years ago has blossomed into a neighborhood project. What began by handing out food to the homeless of Orlando by one family now involves giving out food and clothing by many families.
As Christmas drew nigh, one of the families whose house is on a cul de sac hosted a party – neighbors were invited to bring their donations as well as bring some food to the neighborhood party. Stacks of used clothing were sorted by
gender and size, packed into boxes, then put in a trailer for safekeeping until the day they would be taken to the homeless.
(As always, be sure to click on each photo to see a larger version.)
The kids could watch a movie projected on a giant screen or they could play in a bouncy house. Even better, they could play in the street without being yelled at. The adults had a chance to chat with neighborhood friends while grazing
at the
table.
Of course Santa made an appearance – and not just for the kids. There may have been a chorus or two of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause” sung in some homes.
And Trang was introduced to S’mores, the marvelous concoction of toasted marshmallows, chocolate
and graham crackers. Joy!
The party was what is was supposed to be – a good time shared by neighbors and
friends – a good time for children – a time of laughter – a time of having a White Christmas, even if the temperature in Orlando
was close to 80 degrees. A time to gather gifts. A time to show your kids something about giving.
It was a good evening.
A few days later, it was time for the upper middle class to meet the homeless. A side street near a downtown shelter was selected, the trailer unloaded and wares hung on a fence. The kids helped with the work, but this was new territory for most them – and they were on alert.
It didn’t take long for the word to get out.
And for kids to connect.
Or to hear the explanations for being homeless. Nathaniel knew full well why he was on the streets – he knew he’d made poor decisions. Quiet and very well spoken, he told me of working the day before
and of his elderly mother who lived nearby. After cashing his paycheck, he returned to his street buddies and they got drunk. His money gone, he had come by for some food. Trang listened as he showed her passages in the New Testament he carried – words that guided him in the right direction, but couldn’t lead him past alcohol’s tight grip. His is a quiet desperation.
Others have a mental illness. Though functional in the strictest definition, Willie’s “business sense” can’t progress beyond picking up aluminum cans for recycling. His worldly belongings in a cart, he complains that bad economic times have caused the bottom to drop out of the price of cans to a mere 25 cents per pound. There’s also more competition as hard times have resulted in more people living on the streets picking up old cans. Some food and some clothes will help a little when the can-collecting business gets worse.
Alcohol, drugs and mental illness are major factors in most homeless situations, but not in all cases.
This young man had been on the streets for ten days, along with his wife and young son. The death of both his mother and his mother-in-law within weeks of each other, the necessity of traveling to Massachusetts, and of
being away from
his work too long was more than the finances of the young family could withstand. A trained cook, he hoped to be reemployed soon. In the meantime, some warm clothes and food were greatly appreciated. He really was not a whiner, but nonetheless appreciated Trang’s listening to his story.
There was no expectation of problems, yet it was good to have the presence of an Orlando police
officer. He watched as sandwiches were given to the hungry while clothes were distributed across the street.
And so the morning went – until the clothes were gone.
I liked talking to Sam. I liked his perspective. His laugh came easily and he was comfortable with his circumstances. Few middle class Americans could learn to live as he does – the skill set is very different. Our world is planning for the future – managing
time and budgets. His is a world of survival – of knowing where to go for a safe night’s sleep or a day job. Sam says he once lived in the middle class world. I don’t know if he did – it doesn’t matter. I just know he says he likes his current world better.
And maybe – just maybe – there is a suburban kid who will think of Willie, Sam and the other people they met a few days before Christmas.
The city of Mission, Texas, is a bit like a teen-ager. Its growing rapidly but it still has some small town notions, one of which is the annual Christmas tree lighting and visit from Santa.
A few days ago, city workers spent the day in the downtown park putting up lights, the big Christmas tree, and other seasonal decorations. Even the big metal globe was strung with bulbs as the tree awaited the same treatment.
(Be sure to click on each photo – you will see a larger version if you do.)
The evening of the tree lighting was cold. For you northerners, 50 degrees isn’t cold, but we’re not used
to such temperatures here in deep south Texas. Even the Winter Texans (retirees from the upper mid-west who spend their winters in the Rio Grande Valley) thought it cold enough for a blanket. These folks from northern Iowa cuddled under their Mexican blanket and warm jackets.
After the requisite speeches, the tree was lit. It won’t rival the one in the Rockefeller Center, and it’s an artificial tree (there are no pine trees suitable as Christmas trees in south Texas), but its our tree – and it is pretty. Children and adults alike oooohd and aaaahd when the lights came on – then the kids went off in search of Santa.
Santa was there – and he even spoke Spanish. (I suppose Santa speaks all languages
.) Kids
got a bag of goodies from Santa – with some assistance from Santa’s Helpers. I noticed a lot of cell phones were being used to take pictures of the kids on Santa’s lap, but Santa was a little suspicious of the guy with the big camera to his left.
Christmas has its own flavor in South Texas. The population is 85% Hispanic. Its interesting to see two cultures blend; northern European customs such as the Christmas fir tree and snow decorations combine with a culture that never sees snow. Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic church has a wonderful mariachi
band the often plays at mass – and made a wonderful appearance at the festivities. Retirees from Minnesota know all about snow, and they brought their European ideas of Santa Claus to the party.
Parties like this are really for families – for the kids. The kids at this party were like kids around the 
world. They were full of energy and imagination – heedless of the half-hearted admonishments of adults to slow down and be careful. They chased each other around as older folks sat nearby remembering Christmas’ past.
Merry Christmas, Mission, Texas.
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