We are nearly half-way through the month of November. Veterans Day is behind us and Thanksgiving is ahead of us. That also means that Christmas is coming. All of this hype about things not being available for Christmas makes me wonder if people even know what the holiday is about!

Maybe we need to forget the foreign imports and concentrate on the things that are really important. Buy locally. There are craft shows around the area as well as specialty shops. You can even purchase supplies to make something homemade.

Christmas does not need to be extravagant. Everyone wants to know what to buy for grandma and grandpa. Maybe if you plan a special visit each week throughout the year that would be enough – or donate money toward their utility bills. Those are just practical things that seniors enjoy.

Time is a precious commodity. Too many grandparents and great-grandparents long for company. A short visit here and there is appreciated. Visits do not have to be long. Just drop in to say hello and visit a while.

Maybe you could start with Thanksgiving. Plan visits instead of buying something for them. Volunteer to pick up their groceries for them. Pick up a sweet treat. Who does not like something sweet? Have a cup of cocoa, tea, or coffee and listen to them. It is good for your youngsters as well to get a feel for interacting with their elders.

I was fortunate to know two of my great-parents well. How did I know them so well? We visited them each Sunday. In the afternoon we went to see my grandmother’s mother. In the evening we went to see my grandfather’s father. That is how I grew to love my great-grandparents.

Each of them was special. Now I am the age that my great-grandparents were when I visited. I realize the value of those visits. I was taught right. I was taught respect for my elders. I never thought about it much, but I learned something from those visits. I learned to value the stories that they shared.

I have tried to do that with my grandchildren. When they visit I talk about how I grew up. They know a lot about me. They also found out things about when their parent grew up. Sharing those memories are my fondest memories.

One of the parents bought a book for me to write down memories of my growing up and their parents growing up. I faithfully answered all of those questions. I have no idea what happened to that book, but as I think back, I think some of my responses were colored by the death of their grandfather. That had a profound influence on my life at that time.

Our school librarian used to read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” to the classes. “Maybe Christmas does not come from a store,” was part of that story. I asked my students to pick one gift they wanted for Christmas. I was really surprised at what they chose. One of the girls wanted a Christmas dress. Another wanted to be able to buy something for their mother. Still another wanted a basketball.

One year in school we all brought ornaments for each other instead of little gifts. I think we were reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder stories. Whenever I borrowed something from the library, the books soon disappeared. Everyone wanted to read more! That was a good thing. Everyone was reading.

I remember sending my students to the library for biographies for book reports. Shortly after they returned, there was a ripple of activity in the classroom. I went to check to see what was going on. In case you have not guessed, I did not miss much that went on in my classroom. Three of the boys had art books – Michelangelo, DaVinci, and Raphael. They were filled with nude figures which caused the ripple of activity.

I called the boys outside of the room with their books. I told them they were allowed to read the biographies they chose and report on them. Sheepishly they began to all talk at once. They thought they had books about the Ninja Warriors. I told them if they wanted to change their biographies, they were allowed to go to the library during recess to do so. They all chose to make a change. I must confess it was hard for me to keep a straight face during all of this!

Make Christmas simple this year. We have all been through a lot because of COVID. Remember, children learn what they live.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, Pa. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.