A Very Special Guest

Throughout the holiday's my family and I generally have several visitors, be it family, friends or sometimes in a rare instance perfect strangers. Recently, my Husband and I invited a man from Korea into our home for dinner. This man has only been to the United States on two occasions, this visit to over see a piece of equipment sent to my husband's work being his second. When my husband first suggested the idea of this man, Mr. Song, visiting our home for dinner, I immediately felt nervous. "Well, sure, that would be great." I said, feeling a little bit unsure of everything from what to cook, to how to act so that I don't end up giving off the wrong vibes to our foreign guest.
I love having company over, especially during the holidays. There is nothing I enjoy more than preparing my home for guests, cooking and entertaining. I do admit I am a bit more Martha Stewart than I am Holly Golightly.
I'm not going to lie, one of my main concerns was making a positive impression upon this man.Don't get me wrong, my children are wonderful but they are on occasion a bit loud, hyper and have been known to strip off at the strangest times and run around the house nude. So maybe I did have a deep desire for my children to be somewhat like the Van Traps, maybe without all the singing (however that would be a nice addition to the evening.) And as for my husband and I....Mr. and Mrs. Brady might be a nice couple to mimic.
After much discussion, research on Korean culture, food and social etiquette it came to me....simply be yourself, allow your family to be themselves. After all, this man, is probably wanting to experience a real American family.
Now, what would we cook? Stir fry and Costco egg rolls? No that is trying to hard. Chili? Maybe that would be too spicy. Shepard's Pie? After all my roots are Irish...no too bland. Ahhh I know, Spaghetti. It's easy, tasty, and who doesn't like spaghetti?
When Mr. Song arrived at our home that evening, I had everything ready. The cake was baked, the spaghetti on the stove, fresh garlic bread in the oven and a bottle of wine breathing.
Mr. Song greeted me with a handshake and a little bow, "how polite," I thought to myself. After putting coats away, and preparing the table, we began having dinner. This is when it happened, my darling little 2 year old began making faces, pulling her noodles out one by one, spreading sauce all over her face and yes, singing very loudly, not quite the Song of Music but at least she was trying. "Macy, sweetie, please be quiet and eat." I said in my nicest Mrs. Brady sort of way. She continued on, and now her brother was even joining in on the noise. Oh no, I thought to myself. He is going to think we're heathens! "Kids, that's enough, quiet down now." I repeated, giving my husband a kind of "say something to them" look. Just then, kind Mr. Song smiled saying, "Let them talk, be loud, if they didn't do that, we would think they were sick." Then it hit me, right up side the head. He was so right. Children are children, they talk, they sing, they have fun, with every little part of life including spaghetti. They don't try to impress people, they don't hold heirs. They simply be, and you can accept them how they are or....well, they might just run around naked.
My husband and I both smiled, and I felt an immediate sense of calm embrace me. Our visitor was so ultimately comfortable, our children were comfortable, so why weren't we?
I think we try so hard to impress people, to give them the experience we think they desire maybe forgetting for a moment that we are not them, and we do not know what they are looking for in their experience.
Before Mr. Song left, he played with my children, lifting them up to the ceiling, giving them horsey rides and placing Korean coins and dollars into their hands telling them both that someday they will be great important people in this world. He took pictures of us all together and some of the kids. And, he thanked us for a "genuine American family experience." "You are so kind to have me into your home to meet your family, thank you so much." He said, with a very kind smile.
After he left, my husband and I both agreed that our lives were better because of this guest, this perfect stranger who came into our home and our lives, for just a couple of hours to show us what it means to just simply be ourselves.
Thank you Mr. Song

Magical Christmas

Change is indefinite, that's for sure. Every year, Christmas seems to change a little more. I will say that it is definitely improving. For a while, before I had children of my own, Christmas had lost some of its charm. This really bothered me, especially since I was always the child playing Bing Crosby Christmas tunes in April, wishing and counting down the days until the arrival of the glorious holiday season. Christmas was about the most magical thing ever until I turned 12 (yes, I know its a bit old for finding out that Santa is indeed a figment of my imagination) Sure, my brothers informed me earlier, however I just didn't want to believe them, I found it more enjoyable to believe in Santa than not. Everything seemed more enchanting knowing that jolly old Saint Nick was going to be in my house.
So....I turned 12, Junior High was on it's way. My Dad sat me down and said "Honey, come on, there is no Santa. No Easter Bunny, No Tooth Fairy." "Really?" I replied, with tears in my eyes. I could tell from the look on his face that it was true. In fact, I had known it all along. Too many things just didn't line up. I remember crying a lot that day.Not so much about that loss of Santa but more about the loss of innocence and magic that surrounded that big guy in the red suit.
Time has a way of both healing and changing things for the better. After having my son in 2003 and my daughter in 2005, I came to realize the true beauty behind this holiday. Nothing brings me more joy than watching their little eyes twinkle as they see the Christmas tree for the first time lit up. Or, the joy in their laughter as they open their presents. This year, I took both of my children to see Santa Clause, and although Macy cried her little heart out because as she says "Santa is a naughty guy" both her and Jackson had a wonderful time visiting with Santa.
After their visit, we went into another store across the way from Santa's station. I was busy shopping and then, I looked over to see something so dear to my heart, so innocent and pure. My son Jackson looking over at Santa just trying so hard to get his attention. "I need to tell him something," he said very eagerly. I looked up at Santa he smiled, waved and then got up out of his big chair walking over towards Jackson. "Go on honey," I said to my son. Of course, Jackson went running into Santa's arms for a big hug and then they exchanged whispers and smiles. Mall Santa or not, this guy was good. Any person on earth Santa or not, who can make my little boy beam like that is worth something great in my book. Jackson returned with a candy cane and a huge grin on his face. "What did he say, I asked? Still glowing, Jackson said "He told me to have a Merry Christmas." I looked up at Santa, he was still looking our way, I smiled and suddenly felt that giddy little feeling coming back inside my heart. The true spirit and magic of Christmas.
Things in your life may change, but if you look a little closer, you will find that although things may appear to be different, the true feelings and spiritual emotions that you have always had are still there, it just sometimes takes something extra special to re-awaken them.