A JOLT FOR JILL: CHRISTMAS EDITION

by Jill Rumbley-Beam

Wow! Where has this year gone? It’s Christmas and there are a lot of things that happen at Christmas!!

Parties. I love parties. I have many party memories but my most favorite memory and not such a good one is when I was entertaining at a big party for residents at a high rise in Oak Cliff, Cliff Towers. Those of you from Oak Cliff may remember this place. It’s still there but has a different name. It’s located right near Stevens Golf Course. Well, I was doing my presentation and all of the sudden, this lady walked by me with a tray of cookies in the shape of a reindeer and I was gesturing and knocked the tray of cookies right out of her hand. She went into utter hysterics. I was so embarrassed. Oh well, as they say, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

What else do we do at Christmas? We love to give gifts. The most popular gift at Christmas is a piece of handcrafted jewelry by James Avery. Did you know he started his business in 1954 in Kerrville, Texas. He had his business in his garage and didn’t hire any employees until three years later. He retired from active management in 2007 and now there are James Avery stores everywhere.

What about Christmas memories. I have so many Christmas memories, but my favorite includes my dad. Every Christmas my dad would play tympani at Park Cities Baptist Church for the presentation of the Messiah. Now, when you play tympani, the big brass kettle drums, your big moment during the Messiah is when the Hallelujah chorus is played. That is played at the end of the Messiah. Daddy had to always sit behind his drums during the whole Messiah and then the big moment, the Hallelujah Chorus. He would also read prior to the “big moment”! Well, about the third of the Messiah was sung, mom and I noticed, daddy left the stage. He’d never done that in the many years we heard him play. It was almost time for the big finish and daddy never made it back to play the Hallelujah chorus. The Messiah was over, and we found daddy. We asked him where he was for his big moment. He said he found the nursery, and he was tired, and he laid down on a bed and the rest is history. No tympani that year for the Messiah. No pa rum pum pum pum!

What would Christmas be without Christmas cards? Of course, these days people send online cards but I like to receive them in the mail. Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, created one of the first Christmas cards. She was a folk artist who loved Currier and Ives and she created these little greeting cards, which would capture the first winter’s snow, Thanksgiving preparations and the oncoming of snow. She dies at 100 years old and on the day of her death, Nelson Rockefeller declared that day as Grandma Moses Day!

What would Christmas be without a Christmas tree? I love to place the angel at the top of my tree when I’m through decorating. Speaking of angels. There are always angels among us. There are many angels in the Bible. Some of authority, who carry out the responsibilities ordained by Christ.

Here’s a question for you. Why are most angels’ girls instead of guys. Well, I’m glad you asked. It’s because Leonardo Davinci painted angels in the Vatican and they always were girls. At the time Leonardo was painting, a family, the Demetichi’s were the richest people in England and Leonardo painted the angels to look like the females in the Demetchi family.

My favorite thing, however, at Christmas are all the Christmas carols. I especially love Hark the Herald Angels Sing. This hymn was written by Charles Wesley in 1739 and Charles wrote this hymn on a ship that was coming to America.

We all know what comes after Christmas! It’s a new year!! I hope my 2026 is better than my 2025. I had several falls during 2025 and each time I went to the hospital I was told I severely broke my elbow and my shoulder. I hated to hear that word “severe”!. Then I also found out I have severe osteoporosis! Once again, the word “severe” surfaces. Each year I pick out a word for the year. Just to name a few I’ve chosen the words “intentional “, “focus”, “gratitude”, and many others. Well, my word for this year is “persevere”! Webster defines perseverance as a course of action even in the face of difficulty. Let’s all persevere in 2026! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!