Time sure has a way of slipping by without us noticing. It seems as if things just happen and the next thing you know, everyone is talking about it as if that event was history. I suppose that happens a lot more as you grow older..time flies. I was slammed to full awareness of this phenomenon today. A young lady stopped in to visit with me a while this evening and as we were talking she mentioned some Christmas ornaments that I had taught her to make. I had to think back...way back. This young lady is a senior in high school and the ornaments that she was referring to were made years and years ago. Her parents had asked me to babysit her when she was about five years old. That evening, we pulled out beads and created all sorts of wonderful things! I taught her to make beaded candy canes, wreathes and candles. These ornaments were fun and easy since they only involved beads and chenille stems (what we used to call pipe cleaners!). At five years old, she was very talented and picked up on the technique quite easily. Together we beaded a number of these things to give to her mother. She also made a few extra and the next morning she and I made a call on an elderly lady down the road. "Miss Twin", as she was called, loved receiving the glittery ornaments but loved the visit of the tiny little girl even more. There they sat discussing the ornaments..a five year old and a eighty-five year old..both enjoying one another's company. Miss Twin got the little girl, Nicole, to help her hang the ornaments in her window so she could see them each morning. The sun would shine through the multicolored beads and brighten the room...and the lady's day. Those ornaments stayed hanging right there until the lady passed away a number of years later. Every time I visited her, she would comment on her lovely window ornaments. Nicole told me this evening that she still had her ornaments, too. She said that each year, they would be unpacked and put on the Christmas Tree.
Such a simple thing..an inspired bit of entertainment for a five year old..turned into something that has withstood a good many years. But..oh, my goodness! Do I ever feel old now! Nicole was here when she was five years old and she is now eighteen! Somewhere along the way, she grew into a lovely young lady. Somewhere along the way, I just got older. It does make me feel good, though, knowing that something I did made a difference..even if it is just a small difference. She still remembers our time together and the fun we had that night. Come to think about it..most time spent with children makes a difference. Doing something..teaching something makes a huge impact on a little one's life. Try it sometime..teach a child just one small craft. It does make a difference. Just a small beaded candle can often light the way for a myriad of creative ideas.
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