This book is a slow and gentle read. When I was part way into the story, I had to double-check because this just didn't feel like a novel to me. This read more like a diary, Cora's private thoughts as she journaled out what she felt were the important moments of her life. While it didn't appear anything dramatic happened, this tale winds around the simple mountain life. Hardships, trials, family, and faith all weave together to mold this woman's heart and mind. Most interesting were the bits of outside events that filtered into this isolated community - the Civil War, WWI, the Spanish Flu, to name a few. This story is reminiscent of several others I've read over the years. Accounts of old-fashioned values that were the backbone of America for so long. These pockets of society which were often shunned because of their 'backward' ways. Yet, there are lessons to be learned - perseverance in the face of tragedy, flexibility in all seasons, redemption from mista
Now I really hate how commercialized
Christmas has become - all the crowds, all the craziness, all the bad Christmas
music. So this year, I traveled halfway around the world in the hopes of
avoiding most, if not all, of it. There I was, walking in a market area in
Greece. Almost no one else was shopping – pure bliss. Then, what to my
wondering eyes should appear but Santa dressed all in camo gear. Uhm, what?!
And just don't ask what the elves were wearing. Okay, it was a one-off fluke. I
can handle this, but then a few steps later, I hear what is clearly the voice
of Elvis Presley belting out “Blue Christmas”. Turning a corner to get away
from the noise, I hear “Grandma got run over by a reindeer...” No, no, no. Not
here, among all of these lovely handmade items on this cobble stoned street in
the shadow of ancient ruins. Ugh – Americans have invaded this space and not in
a good way. During the remainder of my stay, I discovered more often than not
in every store, coffeeshop, restaurant, and market, American Christmas music
was being played. Why I have no idea since there were hardly any tourists in
the area and the locals grasp of the English language
wasn't the greatest. Fine – as the old saying goes – you can't run away from
your problems, you just take them with you. Yes, I know, I'm exaggerating a bit
here. Bad Christmas music and hideous Santa Clauses aren’t exactly world ending
dilemmas. But I went to another country to see their Christmas traditions, not
mine. But at least the people there were friendly, no one was fighting over the
latest toy or the last ham in Walmart. Nope, here everyone was relaxed, happy
and willing to spend a moment or 10 talking about anything and everything. Today
as you spend time with friends, family or whomever – stop, reflect, and realize
this moment is only here now. Enjoy it while you can…
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Julie McCoy
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