Saturday, December 12, 2015

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2007. Mattie loved to see the National Christmas Tree, and frankly until Mattie came into our lives Peter and I NEVER walked to see the tree. Mind you it is only blocks from where we live. Mattie made us explore our world in so many different ways. That night when we saw the tree it was ABSOLUTELY bitter outside. We were all freezing, but to our surprise behind the tree was a fabulous Yule log. The fire and heat from this log was such a welcomed feeling. We will never forget that visit to the tree, all the wonderful toy trains running around the tree, or the 50 smaller trees representing our States. 


Quote of the day: There were a billion lights out there on the horizon and I knew that all of them put together weren't enough to light the darkness in the hearts of some men. ~  Michael Connelly


Peter and I worked most of the day today and as mid afternoon hit, we knew we had to break and get out of our home. The weather today has been spring like, in the upper 60s, and it was too beautiful not to be out and part of it. 

We took a walk to the National Christmas Tree, which is right by the White House. This was a tradition we did with Mattie, however, Peter and I haven't done it since Mattie died.  

I am so happy we saw the tree by day light and then at night. Different times of day give you something else to appreciate about the National tree and the 50 smaller trees that surround it. 

In November 1923, First Lady Grace Coolidge gave permission for the District of Columbia Public Schools to erect a Christmas tree on the Ellipse south of the White House. The organizers named the tree the “National Christmas Tree.” That Christmas Eve, President Calvin Coolidge walked from the White House to the Ellipse and “pushed the button” to light the 48-foot Balsam fir, as enthusiastic spectators looked on.

In 1954 the Washington Board of Trade and the Washington Citizen’s Committee conceived of a wider celebration called the “Christmas Pageant of Peace” in which the tree lighting event expanded to three weeks. A “Pathway of Peace” was composed of smaller trees representing all the states, territories and the District of Columbia. The 1954 opening ceremony was held December 17, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower turned the switch. The longer event, with local nightly entertainment, proved very popular and continues to the present. 

Peter is standing in front of the Massachusetts state tree, which is part of the "Pathway of Peace" display mentioned above. Each of these smaller State trees is decorated with ornaments that come from that State! 

Here is a part of the entire display that Mattie LOVED!!! He enjoyed seeing all the toy trains running around on their tracks. The children who come to see the tree all play a game with pennies. They try to toss pennies into the open cars of the trains as they pass by. It is fun to watch and something Peter always did with Mattie!

Here is a close up of some of the ornaments on the New York tree. What caught my attention about these ornaments is that they were made by students at the LaGuardia High School in NY, where my lifetime friend Karen teaches mathematics. So I sent her a photo of the tree!!! Inside these plastic ornaments, were these beautiful origami type structures with holiday themes on them. 

A photo of the Tree at dusk. The lights went on the tree and slowly what I noticed was things were all in GOLD. The irony about all of this was the childhood cancer community asked the President of the United States to light the White House in Gold for childhood cancer awareness month in September. He refused, AGAIN! 

Now three months later everything in DC seems to be aglow in GOLD! 

This is the entrance to the famous Occidental Grill restaurant in DC. I have always wanted to go here. Here are some fun facts about the Grill:

1) Occidental is built by Henry Willard in 1906.

2) Occidental hosts the Washington Senator's 1924 World Series Victory Celebration.

3) In 1962 John Scali meets with Alexander Fomin at Occidental bringing closure to the Cuban missle crisis.

4) Occidental celebrates 100th Anniversary in 2006.

5) In 2013 the Hollywood film Captain America films at Occidental.

Though the Grill is know to be a legendary restaurant in DC, that is NOT why I wanted to go to it. Every time I have passed the restaurant, I greatly admired their outdoor patio area. It reminds me of a European restaurant, surrounded with greenery in the middle of the city. It just seemed charming, as the perfect setting to dine in. So today, being a warm evening, we had the pleasure of trying the Grill and sitting outside. Here was my view. Trees twinkling with big red Christmas balls hanging from their branches!

What made dining outside possible for me were these wonderful flamed torches that gave off incredible heat! 

You can see Peter surrounded by greenery and the torches! To me this was one special restaurant. Though the patio is near the street, the greenery seems to just block out the chaos. In addition, no one is in a rush to throw food at you, to have you finish, or to give away your table. This lack of freneticism is perfect for me. I entered the restaurant with a bad headache and over time just being in this space, surrounded by greenery and these tranquil flames, I started to relax.  

After dinner we walked home, and got to see the Tree one last time at NIGHT!

We posted photos of this GOLD tree on Facebook today and my message about DC going gold now rather than in September was this....

Childhood cancer awareness should not be a one month ritual, but instead an issue on the forefront of our hearts and minds 12 months a year. The holiday season is challenging for so many of us who lost a child to cancer, yet as Peter and I soaked in the sights of the National Christmas Tree as well as other holiday displays, it felt magical. Mattie's spirit seemed alive to us!!!

The beauty of the National Christmas Tree!