Aging with Grace

I learned from my grandmother, who grew up in devastating war times, how important it is to keep with tradition and celebrate the holidays during tough times.

Marcus Samuelsson

On my walk this morning, I took this photo of the Lowry Eisenhower Chapel. Since the last time I saw it, the chapel has been made ready for the holidays with wreaths and lights. Dedicated just days before Pearl Harbor in 1941, it reminds me of all the soldiers who with their families worshiped here before going off to fight in World War II. Later, it was named the Eisenhower Chapel after President Dwight Eisenhower. He and his wife Mamie attended services here. Denver was Mamie’s home and they spent I good deal of time in the city during his presidency. The chapel became part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Decorating the chapel has become a tradition for our neighborhood. As I addressed my Thanksgiving cards, I thought about some of our family traditions. Both my mother and grandmother sent cards for holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. It is a tradition I have continued through the years. My mother would spend hours in the store searching for just the right card and my grandmother sent out over a hundred hand-written Christmas cards to family, friends and business associates.

This year, before I wrote out cards, I put my Nutcracker album on the phonograph and brewed a cup of Teaforte Harvest Apple Spice tea. I got out my Montblanc pen, the cards and autumn leaf seals for the back of the envelopes. It doesn’t take much to make a small project a special occasion.

I hope you will enjoy your own traditions, or make new ones, this holiday season.