Harvesting Christmas Ornaments

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house… not an ornament was found, not even a "Christmas" mouse! Oh, the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, the children were nestled all snug in their beds, but Mamma and Papa weren't ready to settle down for a long winter's nap just yet. It was time to put up the tree and decorate it. But this year was different. We didn't have any ornaments for the sacred bush. Our stash of balls, bells, angels and tinsel were gone. The tree stood before them naked, and ashamed. You see, a fire in the shed this last year wiped out all the Christmas ornament boxes and the bad economy had kept us from buying new ones. The loss had been very depressing for Mamma, some of those enameled ornaments were antiques from the orient. Papa was a rugged 6 footer, but his craggy brow softened and then crumbled at the thought of not decorating the tree. Strings of popcorn and paper ornaments just wouldn't be right. Here on the shores of Yaquina Bay we love our Spruce trees crammed with heavenly ornaments for all to see. Depressed himself now, Papa decided to go for a walk with his dog, Pringles. They wandered down towards the river, searching for inspiration, but finding none. They kept walking though, down to where he kept his skiff tied. Then it came to him, like a holy angel bringing glad tidings; they would make the short journey to the ocean beach. The sea had always provided for them; they had always harvested what they needed from the beaches. He decided to look for simple organic ornaments like sand dollars, clam shells and interesting scraps of driftwood, maybe even a dried starfish for the top. At least they wouldn't be made of paper. No, these would be beach treasures made by the Almighty and fit to give to a newborn prince. They rowed on in silent awe at the beautiful star-filled and still winter night. And Papa's hopes of divine providence enveloped him, like the dark velvety night. Oh how he wished for a guiding star to lead him to Christmas Ornament Salvation. After beaching the skiff, he looked both ways up and down the beach and notices a slight glow he had never seen before. That was intriguing, who would be down here on Christmas Eve having a bon fire? He had to check this out. As they crested the last dune there it was, and Papa was dumb-founded. There, partially buried in the sand, was the Mother Of All Ornaments, and hey, it was from the orient… and it was old. Mamma couldn't wish for a better replacement for her lost cloisinet. And to boot, these Japanese glass fishing net floats glowed with a heavenly light; radiating celestial hope… just waiting to be harvested by those who would reach out and take the gift. Luckily he had kept his beach tools in the skiff. As he and Pringles set to work he breathed a silent prayer of thanks that Yaquina City has no Wal Mart.