December, 2010
MY
BEST
CHRISTMAS EVER.
This Christmas season, you are invited to visit my little town... safely tucked away off a busy highway where on this snowy night, as wood smoke curls above roof-tops, the courthouse square and empty wooden benches are safely and securely guarded by a lone antiquated cannon. Street lamps throw soft pools of light on the brick pavement and the shuttered storefronts feature twinkling lights and humble seasonal displays. As the church bells mark the late hour and the beginning strains of a Christmas carol reach our ears, we think of the good and honest people who live out their lives in this town... lives spent in century-old two story farm style homes that seem rooted to the land. 
Standing proud and tall with wrap-around porches draped with fresh green roping and red bows, gingerbread trim along upper story balconies, and a lit candle (electric of course) in every curtained, leaded glass window, these homes convey the solid, hard working principles by which people in this town live their lives.
As you climb the worn wooden steps, the solid oak front door opens; the warm light, joyous sounds, and the smell of good food spill out... welcome to our home...we extend an open heart and open hand to all who are in need of comfort.
Yet, even a small town cannot escape the ravages of our current economy, although in the face of difficult times, it seems as if small town people tend to draw their circle a little bit tighter and closer to support those going through trials, more so than those in larger metro areas. Maybe it is because you see your neighbor at the local family run grocery store, the corner post office, bank, or church. You either come to know them or know of them. This familiarity perhaps contributes to an accountability that one would not feel in a large city. Christmas is coming, so let me tell you about what could very well be my most memorable Christmas ever.
Late in the fall of that year, Robert and Carol Swanson (names have been changed), a family of five, and their little mixed breed dog, 'Jack' had recently moved here from a large city in the eastern part of the state. I couldn't say how life plays out in other small towns, but in our area a next door neighbor might take a plate of cookies or a home cooked casserole over to welcome the newcomers. Others may smile, wave and introduce themselves, but by and large, the rest of the neighbors pretty much go about their own business. That's not to say we don't notice what is going on, or that we wouldn't pitch in and help someone if necessary, we just like to give people their space and privacy. The Swanson children, ages 6 and 8 attended the nearby elementary school, while their mother Carol staying at home to care for the baby. The family had moved to our town to escape the crime, congestion, and stress of the city.
In our small town children can play outside, safely walk to and from school or to a friend's home without fear of being accosted by a stranger. Here an able-bodied neighbor would shovel the snow off your walk if they knew you were too old to do it yourself, or they would take it upon themselves to do something as simple as going from door to door for signatures on a 'Get Well' card for a neighbor who had just had an operation. This is 'community' in every sense of the word---this is where people looked out for each other, this was a place where people care about one another.
Robert Swanson had just taken a job with an area business, and along with it, a decrease in pay from his previous job, a job which had been out-sourced to a foreign company. As a family, they felt that the safety and friendliness associated with living in a small town far out-weighed the inconvenience of cutting back on frivolous purchases or a higher standard of living and the accoutrements that tend to accompany it. After all, life really isn't about 'more', it should be about 'enough'. It wasn't long before this new family fell in quite comfortably with the neighborhood. I would see the children riding bikes and Carol pushing the baby in the stroller and occasionally stopping and chatting with the other mothers. On weekends, we might see the family out in the yard raking leaves, or, since it was nearing Christmas, all helping to string lights across the front porch of their large, white, old-fashioned two story home.
My husband and I continued with our lives, work, activities, church, seeing family. The sun still rose and set, all was peaceful and calm, and all was well in our little town... or so we thought. I'm not quite sure exactly where I first heard about it, possibly from my friend down the street who taught at the elementary school, or maybe a neighbor just happened to notice that Robert's car was still in the driveway every morning, and had been for quite awhile. But it wasn't long until it was revealed--by a very despondent Carol--that Robert had lost his job.
We didn't ask, we didn't pry... we extended our sympathies and promised to 'keep our ears and eyes open' and let them know if we heard of any available opportunities. Of course, we assumed they had savings, and, we assumed that a job opening would surely pop up...but it wasn't long and we heard that life was getting quite desperate for the Swansons. The elementary teacher revealed that the kids were arriving at school on cold days with just light-weight jackets and no hats or gloves... She had been told that both children had revealed to classmates that since their house was so cold, baby sister Liz was sick, and "Daddy doesn't have any money to pay the doctor".
The Christmas lights the family had joyfully strung a few weeks earlier were never on, and walking by their back yard one day, it appeared to me that even Jack was looking rather thin, and his fur was matted--no friendly 'woof' or wagging tail, just curled up on the concrete stoop, shivering. I thought of my own little dog, Pete, and how he was clean, warm, and well-fed.
The day I stood in line at the grocery store behind a very haggard looking Carol, who's cart contained only a few items and a small amount of food and saw her handing food stamps to the cashier, that was the day I knew I had to do something... we had to do something. Not only was a neighbor in dire straights, but Christmas was just around the corner and in our neck of the woods, neighbors look out for each other.
That night I told my husband what I had seen at the grocery store; picked up from neighbors, and my concern over the lack of warm outerwear for the children. I was nearly in tears telling him about sweet little Liz's condition and how even their dog seemed depressed. We both knew that we could not go about 'business as usual' with this sort of need in our neighborhood. That night, we formulated a plan of action; if nothing else, Christmas was going to mean something very real this year, not just for the Swanson's, but also for the entire town.
The next day, I wasted no time; I called nearly everyone I knew who was willing and able to help. Mark and Don the grocery store owners, they generously offered a gift certificate for nearly a month's worth of food. Doctor Ray agreed to pay them a visit and care for little Liz-- pro-bono, the second hand store not only provided gently used coats, hats, mittens and boots for the Swanson children. Carl, the mechanic at the tire shop just down the street, agreed to take a look at Robert's car and Karin, the owner of the salon on Main Street, came up with the idea of a bit of pampering for a much-deserved Carol: a haircut, style, pedicure and manicure. Now that word was out, others came forward to donate toys, handmade gifts, or services. No, the Swansons would not be forgotten, nor would we stand by and witness suffering and need as if our hands were tied.
It wasn't but a few days before we had planned on delivering our community wide surprises to the Swanson's that I realized that I had nothing to give... but wait--- I did have something to give... here I was in my own little cozy home, with my stash of Made in the U.S.A., J.R.LIGGETT products, and I was not sharing?
With all the wholesome, healthy and good for our bodies J.R.LIGGETT'S products that I had, I quickly, I grabbed a huge basket and began selecting goodies from my stash: There certainly was no doubt in my mind that the entire family would benefit greatly from the shampoo bars that do 'triple duty' not only as a superior shampoo for kids from one to ninety-two (and beyond!), but are also fabulously effective for shaving and use as a mild body soap. Surely Robert could use J.R.LIGGETT'S shaving foam with all of those soothing, moisturizing oils on that developing scruffy beard we had noticed... The Foam Face & Body Wash, the Moisturizing Scrubs, and the Moisturizing Oils Kit would be super for Carol (I also nabbed a couple spray Body Oils for a stocking stuffer--wow, Carol spirits would surely be lifted.
And I couldn't forget Jack; my little Pete generously suggested we drop in a bottle of "My Dog Fergie's Shampoo", a bag of dog food, and a couple of gently-chewed toys (Pete believes in recycling). We know Fergie would have done the same for any other well-deserving canine. Jack was going to be as clean-smelling, happy, and flea and tick free as Pete ...yikes! Competition for Fergie! Just a few of Nanak's Lip Smoothies for the kid's stockings and we were ready to 'deliver the goods'.
On Christmas Eve, we all crowded onto the Swanson's old-fashioned front porch, bubbling over with excitement, joy and love. As Robert and Carol slowly opened their front door, in exuberant unison, we all shouted, "Merry Christmas!" and one by one, we came forward to offer our loving gifts and services to a very surprised and disbelieving Swanson family. Tears of gratitude filled Robert's and Carol's eyes as they realized the generosity and selflessness of their community, the community they were now a part of. We couldn't have been more astonished, when my husband stepped to the front of the group with a pair of Natural Travelers and Mini Travelers explaining that the Swanson's would be needing these next summer for their vacation... he then announced that his kind employer had a job waiting for Robert and that he could report to work the day after Christmas!
Shouts of joy exploded from the crowd and as we all began to sing, the Swanson children flipped on the Christmas lights and Jack ran in circles around our legs, barking and wagging his tail excitedly. Our eyes were as bright as the sparkling, shining stars in that cold night sky, and our hearts were warm with the gift and selfless love of the season. We had come together as a community for one of our own and had gave from our hearts. We all had learned first hand the old adage:
'It is better to give, than to receive.'
Visit other Articles from J.R. Liggett
