Ornaments
This ornament is probably one of my earliest
Christmas memories. A work of pure six year old
artistry, I’m actually surprised it’s stood the test
of time! As a child, I was always embarrassed by
the rudimentary Play-Doh lump; but as an adult,
I’m thankful for the resilience of the little piece
of nostalgia. Growing up with a single mom, I was
always in awe of her strength and capabilities. I can
remember constantly trying to find ways to make her
feel special. Something about the holidays has always
generated an extra boost of love and gratitude within
me, so I decided one year to make the ornament by
smashing out the lumpy yellow dough and writing
“Best Mom” with a sharpie. To hang it, the ornament
has to be supported from its twist-tie loop with a
hook or two! It’s never going to be the prettiest one
on the tree, but I hope it always makes my mom
smile!
- Jamie Bartek
I love to travel, and I often collect Christmas ornaments and refrigerator
magnets, as reminders of the fun times spent seeing sights. Great friends
from Carrollton, Paul, and Meagan, and I started doing a trip for our
birthday, starting with my 40th birthday trip to Chicago, in 2015. We
decided we’d do one every couple of years and make sure to go where the
Birthday celebrant wanted to visit. In March 2018, we went to New York
City for Paul’s birthday. We had a great time, doing the usual sightseeing.
I bought a Christmas ornament, as I think we all bought the same one,
and had our names written on them. I was so excited to hang it in my
Christmas tree later that year. When we were leaving for the airport for
home, I somehow managed to leave the one bag I was carrying sitting on
the curb in Times Square which included not only new clothes, but also
my ornament. My heart sank, and they knew how mad I was at myself.
That Christmas, like always, we went to dinner and Meagan hands me my
present. To my amazement was my ornament! Meagan tracked down the
shop, purchased a replacement, had them write our names, and shipped to
Georgia. I was over the moon! It always has a prominent place on my tree
and I think of that trip each time I see it.
- Artagus Newell
But there are a few ornaments that have an extra special meaning to their owners. Here are
a few local Christmas ornaments that make their on a tree each year not just for their beauty
but because they hold a very special place in someone’s heart...