From Chapter Two
The quiet but close crunch of footsteps behind her made Milla turn around. For a moment, in a flash of sunlight, it seemed as if the white-robed figure was floating over the snowy ground toward her. She blinked the image away and the solid form of a woman emerged, one who was definitely leaving footprints in the snow. The robes were indeed white, but the sturdy, practical wool coat draped over her shoulders and heavy snow boots made her solid and real.
She stopped a few feet from where Milla stood. “I don’t mean to intrude, but are you okay?”
If the woman was past thirty it wasn’t by much. She can’t have been ordained long, Milla thought. Dark hair had been mostly pushed up into a knit cap similar to the ones Milla had worn every winter of her life, though she’d have never chosen bright red. She shivered slightly, aware that a world away a bright red cap was asking to be a sniper target.
“I’m fine. Just paying my respects.”
“Home to visit family?”
Milla nodded, wondering if the pastor thought she might be a vet with no place to go. “Surprising my mom later. She thinks I’m home a week from now.”
A smile broke across the narrow face, lighting up the gray eyes. “How nice! You’re getting somewhere warm soon, though?”
In the last few minutes the snowflakes had gotten bigger and heavier. The champagne powder would be gone in a couple of hours and the pristine white roads would turn to slush. She looked down at Gracie’s grave. She wondered if Gracie’s mom ever visited — she’d tossed Gracie out of her life on two counts: drugs and being gay. What had seemed a gentle, purifying cover of snow now seemed unfeeling and sterile. No holly or ivy, no pine boughs. “My brother is picking me up in a while. He wraps up his last work shift soon.”
“I was going to get something hot — cocoa or coffee. Care to join me?”
For a moment she was annoyed at becoming some pastor’s rescue project but she was feeling the cold through her boots now. Her station gloves were worthless against the cold. She remembered where she was in time to hold back the casual “Fuck yeah” she’d have said to Brent. “I’d like that. Thank you. But one last thing I want to do.”
She set her patrol cap on the duffel at her feet, turned her back to Gracie’s grave and let herself fall into the soft, welcoming snow. Powder puffed up past her ears and settled on her face.
The pastor laughed. After Milla completed several prone jumping jacks, she helped her get up again.
“Very nice,” she said, surveying the snow angel.
Feeling a little foolish, Milla dusted snow off her short cropped hair and pulled her cap on again. “It won’t last, but Gracie would have liked it.”
“I am sorry for your loss.”
“A friend.” She hefted her duffel onto one shoulder and settled the weight across her back. “We were close before I enlisted.”
They walked toward the nearest gate out of the cemetery. “How long ago was that?”
“Two years and then some. I haven’t seen her since, and she was going places I couldn’t follow.” Just outside the gate was the Highland Presbyterian Church, a small building Milla had never had reason to notice before. “Is that one yours?”
“Yes. Small but mighty in the Lord,” she said with a smile. “It’s the unofficial church that goes with the cemetery, so when I see a service and have the time I like to step out and say a prayer as well. I’ve only been the pastor for four months, so we’ve yet to see if I’ll be a success.”
Noting that the Christmas Eve sermon was to be Love Thy Neighbor — Is that So Hard? Milla asked, “You’re Celestyna Gorski?”
“Sorry, that was rude of me.” Celestyna held out her hand as they walked. “Pleased to meet you…?”
“Milla.” She brushed her fingertip over the nametape on her ACU jacket before shaking hands. “Zajac, Specialist, United States Army Signal Corps. Your parents were thinking ahead with a name like Celestyna?”
“Absolutely. I was supposed to be a Catholic nun. Second-born daughter and all that, but I was called a different direction. Most people call me Tyna. Except for my grandmother.”
“I don’t think I could call you Tyna.” She waved a hand. “You’re all pastory and priesty.”
“You’re in uniform too, so it doesn’t seem quite right to call you Milla. I should call you ma’am, perhaps?” Tyna was smiling, clearly amused at the idea.
“Don’t call me ma’am. I’m enlisted. I work for a living.”
Tyna gave her a lopsided grin as they waited for the pedestrian light on the busy corner. “Milla it is then, so you have to call me Tyna.”
“What would your congregation think?”
“They call me Pastor Tyna, except for the members of the Auxiliary.” She waved an unadorned but elegant hand at her plain robes. “I normally don’t wear these except during services, but there was a dispute to settle with the decorating committee and the ladies only listen when I’m all pastory and priesty, as you say.”
“You set them straight?” Milla put out a hand to keep Tyna from stepping into the street as a late car pushing the red light roared past them.
“Thanks — I didn’t see that coming.” Tyna led the way across the intersection. “The last thing I can do with the Auxiliary is tell them what to do. That’s a fool’s errand. All I did was confirm that they were in fact referring to the correct minutes of the meeting in the summer where they planned out the ribbon colors for the flowers for all the holidays for the rest of the year. Yes, they had indeed chosen blue for Christmas Eve. Mrs. Stewart thought it was mocking Hanukkah and Mrs. Wubizcek felt it was a nice tribute to the pagan aspects of the season. I saw a funeral out the window and ran for it. Even now my phone is vibrating non-stop.”
“Well, that could be—” Milla stopped herself just in time. “The politics must be hard.”
Tyna gave her a sideways look as she veered toward the door to the Tim Horton’s. “What were you going to say?”
“What?” Milla tried an innocent look. It didn’t work on base, but stateside maybe it would.
“You were going to say that a constantly vibrating phone could be fun? Or, uh, interesting?”
Milla was glad her already ruddy cheeks wouldn’t show the blush she felt rising. She doffed her cap and tucked it under her arm as she negotiated her heavy duffel through the double doorways. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I’m ordained. I’m not dead.”
The hubbub inside the shop kept Milla from having to answer.
Karin Kallmaker –
The date is actually 12/21/2022. I backdated it so this entry would appear first for future visitors.
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Diana
Karen
Christine
Deb Hall
Sue F.
Congratulations!
Karin Kallmaker –
Thanks for dropping by! You are in the right place to enter the drawing for a download of the Comfort and Joy eBook. To enter comment about your favorite show or movie that you watched as a kid during this time of year.
A Charlie Brown Christmas was not to be missed every year when I was little. (It still isn’t!) That was back in the ancient before times when it aired once and if you missed it, it was a whole ‘nother year to see it. My parents watched it every year too!
I uploaded this pic of a poinsettia, because why not? The red wakes up my eyes! It’s like a promise that spring will arrive soon.
If you have a favorite holiday-esque photo, feel free to share it!
Malinda –
I’m pretty old and we didn’t have a TV when I was really young and we didn’t go to the movies much because we lived mostly in little towns. But there was a favorite book. Would that count? It was a big Golden book and it featured real gold paint on every page. It was about a hedgehog family’s Christmas. I still remember reading it under the lights of the Christmas tree. That gold paint was just amazing under those colored lights. My mother put it away every year and got it out on Christmas Eve. I loved that book and looked forward to it even when I got kind of old for it.
Karin Kallmaker –
That’s sounds like the PERFECT memory. We had a special book of children’s poems about Christmas that’s long since disappeared, but it was a special thing. Books are magic to kids and it improves their entire life if someone reads to them when they’re little. No one can tell me different.
Julie –
There was a California Raisins’ Claymation Christmas show. I’ve never tried to find it as an adult, but yeah, it was on once and if you missed it, you had to wait until next year. I remember some ducks or geese singing “Here We Come A’Wassailing” but they sang it “A’Waddling” instead. I don’t remember much else. The California Raisins sang. It was all claymation and animals and the raisins.
Karin Kallmaker –
LOL – I remember that! I’m not sure it can be found now, but the California Raisins were a thing back in the day, weren’t they?
Deb Hall –
I always like to watch Santa Claus the movie..the Dudley Moore version..not sure if they have remade it or not but that my go to. I agree with the Charlie Brown Christmas, but if I only had time for one movie it would definitely be Santa Claus..
Karin Kallmaker –
I’m not sure I know that one – I’ll look for it, thanks!
Cynthia –
A Charlie Brown Christmas was my favorite too.
Karin Kallmaker –
The music would start and I’d giggle madly. I kinda still do.
Sue –
I remember watching Rudolph every year as a youngster. Now I show parts of it to my students as an example of animation. As a teen, I loved White Christmas!
Karin Kallmaker –
White Christmas – Vera Ellen was a great dancer! I enjoy watching it whenever it comes on.
Myra Sloan –
My favorite as a child was A Charlie Brown Christmas. As I got older I enjoyed It’s A Wonderful Life. I used to watch it as I wrapped my children’s gifts. Christmas is an amazing time for children! I watch Elf every year with grandchildren now.
Karin Kallmaker –
Candy, Candy Canes, Candy Corn, and Syrup. Not that I have it memorized.
Lana –
Growing up in Russia, we didn’t celebrate Christmas. Our holiday was a New Year that we celebrated with a decorated tree, family dinner, watching the kremlin clock strike midnight (just 10 pm for us in Siberia), then celebrated our New Year. Went to bed only to get up a few hours later and keep celebrating my father’s birth day (Jan. 1). We didn’t exchange presents, just ate a lot (my mom’s homemade everything), lots of Vodka for adults LOL and we watched “Irony of Fate” and old 1978 Russian rom com about 2 people meeting on a new Year eve by fate and falling in love. I still watch it every year here.
Karin Kallmaker –
Thanks for the glimpse into a different tradition than I’m used to!
Maddy –
I loved Charlie Brown Christmas special but what I looked forward to the most was the original Grinch cartoon narrated by Boris Karloff. I never get tired of Max the dog. As an adult I bought the VHS tape to watch at my leisure and still have it. 🙂
Karin Kallmaker –
Max the Dog is very nearly tied in my heart with Snoopy in The Great Pumpkin. I never miss the Grinch either!
Maggie –
My favorite shows to watch over the Christmas holidays were and still are Rudolph and Frosty!
Karin Kallmaker –
Those are two good ones!
Bev Davis –
Charlie Brown Christmas was a favourite of mine too. And I always try to watch the old classics – especially It’s A Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol.
Karin Kallmaker –
Tonight we watched Christmas in Connecticut and Barbara Stanwyck is just … sigh…
Sue Ellen –
My Favorite movie was A Christmas Story.
Always brings a Smile when I think of it.
Karin Kallmaker –
We figured out that if we watched one of our favorite movies every night leading up to Christmas Eve, we’d have to start in September! LOL!
Cheryl H –
A Charlie Brown Christmas is the best. I look forward to A Christmas story every year, too. Since I live in the land of the ice and snow, I’ve always found actors shivering in the California soap flakes amusing.
Karin Kallmaker –
I have to laugh at the cooking competition shows that are for holiday airing and they’re being filmed in mid-summer. Everyone is dressed for winter while the frosting is melting off the cakes.
Christine Reid –
It has to be the grinch my favourite movie but the snowman will always be first choice
Karin Kallmaker –
You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch…
Lyn Denison –
At the risk of dating myself, I remember an old black and white movie with Bing Crosby called, I think, White Christmas, that was featured every Festive Season. I loved the singing.
Karin Kallmaker –
It’s a lovely movie with a great soundtrack of Irving Berlin tunes. It was filmed in Technicolor, but early television viewing would have been mostly in black and white. I always wanted Rosemary Clooney’s dress at the end.
Shai –
My all time fav thing to watch at this time if year is A Christmas Carol BUT it has to be Patrick Stewart’s version.
Karin Kallmaker –
I do like his version – the audio recording of his one man show is FABULOUS. But in my heart I’m an Alistair Sim devotee. Have you seen The Man Who Invented Christmas? It’s a fun look at the making of the story.
Karen –
While I like Charlie Brown Christmas my favorite is Miracle on 34th Street- black and white version.
Karin Kallmaker –
Maureen O’Hara’s hair looks redder in the black and white version than the one that’s colorized and nobody can convince me otherwise.
Maureen O’Hara. sigh
Denise –
Definitely the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. Didn’t you always wonder why they made the mother’s voice sound like that?
Karin Kallmaker –
Adults really didn’t exist in Charles Schulz’s vision of Peanuts. I like the teacher’s voice too.
Kathryn Klingerman –
Definitely Rudolph. I waited every year for Clarice to sing “There’s Always Tomorrow.”
Karin Kallmaker –
That’s such a sweet song!
Penny Mabie –
We didn’t watch much television, but I do remember the Christmas variety shows where people like Barbra Streisand, the Rat Club, Judy Garland and others would guest star and sing.
Karin Kallmaker –
Carol Burnett always had a holiday themed show and that was fun every year.
Milena –
Actually it wasn’t a movie that we watched as a kid growing up. It was reading the nativity story as a family that is the most memorable. Though we would watch movies like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.
Karin Kallmaker –
That’s a wonderful memory to have!
Diana –
I’m afraid it’s a bit traditional but It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed is a must every year. So much joy, laughter and pain all merging together to create a wonderful life…and of course when an angel gets their wings.
Karin Kallmaker –
Nothing to be afraid of – my holidays are full of traditions for no reason other than their traditions. 🙂
Joules –
I liked the Muppet Family Christmas but Disney locked up all things Muppet 😔 I loved the Claymation Christmas and you can order a DVD of it. My partner and I giggled like kids!
Karin Kallmaker –
We’re huge fans of Muppet Christmas Carol. It’s one of the movies we watch on Christmas Eve.
Lynn Heilesen –
I love Charlie Brown too. As s music lover I just can’t get enough of the music from that show.
Karin Kallmaker –
I think the Vince Guaraldi soundtrack brought jazz into a lot of people’s lives.
Ruth Simon –
Here’s another vote for both “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and the original “Miracle on 34th Street.”
I also watched all the Rankin & Bass stuff, and I still think the Bumble was/is terrifying.
From the R&B stories, we had the Island of Misfit Toys–along with Dennis the Elf, the Heat Miser/Snow Miser boys, and the Winter Warlock– to give us a few unsung LGBTQ+ icons at a young age.
One show that I only remember seeing once or twice was “Emmet Otter’s Jug-band Christmas” along with a John Denver/Muppets Christmas special of some kind. But I haven’t found many people–other than my spouse–who remember either of them.
Karin Kallmaker –
I think there was a genuine “moment” in animation in the mid-60s. I saw all of those old shows and they were magical. As were the Winnie-the-Pooh short features, like Blustery Day. Such fun!