Christmas is an occasion to spend time with family and friends, both new and old, in a cozy, comfortable setting. It’s a time for a renewed sense of spirituality for many. After all, the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ.
My family and I witnessed this first-hand Sunday evening as we attended a candlelight service at the Houlton Wesleyan Church. An evening filled with joyous Christmas carols culminated with the congregation circling the church and lighting candles for a rendition of “Silent Night.” It was truly an awe-inspiring moment to see a darkened room slowly become aglow in a sea of warm light.
Coming home for the holidays is the pinnacle of the year for many who have moved away. And there really is no better place to come home to than Houlton (or any of the other surrounding communities in southern Aroostook County for that matter.)
For those who have moved away, much remains the same here in Houlton. Walking around downtown in the morning, the wonderful smells of fresh doughnuts cooking at Sadie’s Bakery still waft through the air. Movies at the Temple Cinema bring back many fond memories as new generations discover the magic of the theater.
I fondly recall the days of the Western Auto and Rod and Gun searching for the latest hot toys, as well as the magical Dunn Furniture storefront that captured the attention of children young and old alike. And who could ever forget the M and M music van riding through town blasting Christmas songs at full volume?
The staples of downtown Houlton are fading, however. Yorks Bookstore closed a few years back and Town and Country will be closing for good on Dec. 24. But there are still several shops open for business, beckoning shoppers into their stores — like Cole’s Shoe Store, Beal’s Variety, Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe, Jean’s Serendipity and Country North Gifts to name a few.
Sure, it is far easier to order gifts online and have them shipped to your home, but without these local retailers what would our downtown look like? If you are searching for last-minute gifts, shop local — you don’t have to wait and wonder if the items will make it to your home in time for Christmas.
Christmas has taken a decidedly different feel this year. Probably it is because our children are getting older. Mornings in December used to be a race to see which child could make it down the stairs first in order to advance the little snowman on our Advent Calendar onto the next day.
This year, the mad dash is much more subdued. Our 10-year-old still is excited for Christmas, but the 13-year-old would prefer to sleep until 11 a.m. Try and wake her early and you are likely to see a creature resembling one of the “Walking Dead.”
Growing up, finding that right time to wake up on Christmas morning was always a challenge. Some years, our parents would let us come downstairs while it was still dark outside, but most years, my brother and I were sent back upstairs to our rooms, so they could sleep an extra hour or two.
Sometimes, we would sneak down and snatch our stockings, hoping upon hope that there was some cool toy inside them. More often than not, though, the stockings were filled with apples, oranges and toothbrushes. Occasionally there would be a neat Hot Wheels car stuffed inside, which would have to suffice until we were given the OK to come downstairs.
Now that I am the parent, I appreciate Christmas morning on an entirely different level. It’s no longer about receiving presents as it is watching the faces of our children light up when they come down the stairs. If that means operating on four hours of sleep, so be it. Hopefully, there will be a bag or two of coffee underneath the tree for me as well. I’m sure I will need it.
The staff of the Houlton Pioneer Times wishes all of our readers a very Merry Christmas. Our office will be closed Monday, Dec. 26 in observance of Christmas. Our office will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 8 a.m.
