John Jared, President
UTIA Retirees Association
As we move closer to the heart of the holiday season, I’m reminded of the many fond memories that make this time of year so very special for me. My thoughts quickly carry me back to my younger years growing up on the family farm in Middle Tennessee. Those were exciting days that are still fun to recall.
The holiday season usually began when my dad, sister, and I would head to the woods to look for that one perfect red cedar that would adorn our home from mid-December until the New Year arrived. While finding the perfect tree rarely happened, we would always manage to find just the right one. Sightings of numerous wildlife and hearing the sounds of nature made our search even more exciting. Once inside and decorated, the characteristic smell from the freshly cut cedar filled every room in the house and signaled that Christmas was not too far away.
As we all know the real purpose for the tree becomes abundantly clear on Christmas morning, especially when we are enjoying our “believing in Santa” years. Jumping out of bed much earlier than normal and rushing to see what the jolly old guy had left under the red cedar was the most exciting time of all. Needless to say, Mom and Dad acted just as excited and surprised as anyone. Too bad those fantasy years are so few and pass so quickly. However, as I grew older I realized the season was more about giving than receiving.
One of my most memorable holiday seasons on the farm was the year it began snowing on Christmas Eve and did not stop until some fourteen inches had accumulated by the end of Christmas Day. It was a time of tranquility and serenity for my family and me, and we cherished every moment by enjoying a crackling fire, the stillness of falling snow, drinking hot chocolate, popping popcorn, playing cards and listening to our favorite Christmas music. It was a dream come true and for sure the kind of Christmas Bing Crosby sang about.
Another memorable event was the annual Christmas play I would participate in at the local church. The plays were special because choices for holiday events/activities were limited in my small rural community. The thing I remember about my role was I could never remember my lines correctly. I wanted to ad-lib rather than follow the script. However, the best part was joining a group of young people after the play and traveling around the neighborhood singing carols to folks who were shut in. I learned so very much about the true meaning of the season from those special times.
One of the things that was most special to me was feeding the farm animals on Christmas Eve. I would always give each one an extra scoop of feed and a gentle pat on the head. Weird I know, but animals and mangers were a special part of the first Christmas.
Other fond memories of the holiday season were the quail hunting trips with my dad and uncles, shooting mistletoe from the tall oak tree, my mom’s delicious apple stack cake, watching the bowl games on New Year’s Day (not so many back then), and just enjoying the holiday spirit in the country. For those of you who have been there, you know there is no other place like it.
Most of all, I learned that the best part of the holidays was sharing the love and warmth of family and friends as we celebrated what the season was really all about. As I left the farm to seek and form a family of my own, those lessons became and have remained a constant companion each step of the way.
In closing, I want to personally thank all of you who had a part in making 2017 a very good year. I deeply appreciate your efforts and dedication to making the UTIA Retirees Association a stronger and more relevant organization. With your continued commitment, 2018 will be even better.
As the old year ends and the new one begins, I wish for all of our members a blessed, healthy, safe, and memorable holiday season! You are a special group!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
John