My Bialetti Moka Express, made in Italy

We were going to put up the tree yesterday, but the sweet Mr. FixIt was so sore from doing the Turkey Trot with the kids on Sunday, we decided to just have a lay low day. I fed the sourdough starter. Emptied the dishwasher and and made my morning coffee. Lately, I’ve been using a Moka Pot for some excellent lattes. This is the way to make espresso without investing big bucks in a machine. 

I had a nice De’Longhi Espresso Machine that Mr. Virgo bought for me one year for Christmas. It cost about $400 and made great coffees, but after a few years it wouldn’t keep pressure and it just didn’t work right. I’ve carried around all these years thinking maybe I’d figure out how to fix it one of these days, but that seems unlikely. 

I had a Moka Pot years ago and I have no idea what became of it. I don’t believe I used it too often and ended up giving it away. I saw this one on Amazon when I was thinking of replacing the old espresso maker, but when I saw the prices, the Moka Pot just sounded like a much more sensible investment. It’s really easy to use…you fill the bottom part with water, put espresso grind coffee in the filter, screw the top on and place over medium heat till the water boils and it force up through the coffee grounds and into the pitcher at the top. Smooth, easy, and delicious.

A bustling holiday shopping season gets underway. Notice the stockings with the seams in the back and the women wearing hats and gloves. Women dressed to shop in those days.

Once my java was in hand, I curled up in my recliner and found myself looking at old photos of Christmas in my hometown. What a treat it is to look back at the memories of my youth and the shops we frequented in what was once a thriving downtown. I scan the people and cars in these old photographs, looking for familiar faces. I did run across a picture one time of my grandmother at a Christmas party at the bakery where she worked as a cake decorator, but that’s the only person I’ve known so far.

One of the better department stores in our downtown shopping area…all gone now.

It’s a shame so many “downtowns” across America were left abandoned and derelict when malls came into fashion. No fancy mall can ever take the place of the department stores created and grown by sturdy pillars of the community. Names like Cox’s, Dil’s, Broida Stone and Thomas. The only two still in business are Buttermore Jewelers and Horner & Harrison and it’s not downtown anymore. 

Me, in the snow, at my best friend’s house. We’re still friends and she reads this blog!

There’s not much left in our downtown anymore. The Historic Blennerhassett Hotel is the anchor. There is the Art Guild and the community theater across the street. A handful of restaurants and office buildings and empty storefronts are all that’s left of a beautiful and robust center of commerce in our town. “Progress” isn’t always pretty. It doesn’t always last. And it isn’t always an improvement.

Christmas Parade on Market Street

I miss the days of wandering through the shops with my mom, and later with my girlfriends, picking up gifts…getting them gift wrapped with beautiful bows and tags and colorful paper…and carrying them around in big paper bags with handles. Looking in the windows of the more expensive shops and dreaming of when we might be able to afford such luxuries. Sitting on a stool at the counter in Murphy’s for a Cherry Coke and Grilled Cheese sandwich with a pickle spear and a handful of chips.

A wet and grey Christmas shopping season in Downtown Parkersburg, WV

I look at the lives we live now…shopping in sterile big box stores or worse, sitting in our pj’s and pushing a couple of buttons on a screen…and I wonder, “What kind of memories are we creating for our kids and grandkids?” I like to encourage people to buy local, shop from artisans and crafters in your own or nearby towns. I can guarantee…none of their goods or services are sitting on a cargo ship, waiting to be unloaded…or waiting for a trucker to take it across the country.

A Hometown Christmas Parade

We have come to rely WAY too much on electronics and on products being produce in other countries. All in the name of convenience. I’m just as guilty as anyone…mainly because we live out in the country and there are fewer choices. I’m going to try to do what my friend Gail does and shoot for a homemade Christmas. She just told me about this windfall she fell into and is turning a bunch of old kitchen cabinets into amazing gifts her family will cherish for years to come. Last year she knitted everyone sweaters. And she has a HUGE family.

Dad would always drive us around town one night before Christmas to see the lights.

Simpler is better. I’d rather have nothing but a hand written card than to have just any old thing with little thought or planning. I don’t want or need anything fancy or expensive…although this was the year we had to replace our phones, so that’s our Christmas to each other. I don’t need another camper shaped bird house or a ceramic frog. Give me your time, and your attention, and your love…and I’m a happy camper…through and through.

We have one of those stars in our collection of Christmas decor that we picked up along the way.

I gave my kids and grandkids and my brother the memory book of the farm this year. My son-in-law’s mom said Daughter #1 brought her book to Thanksgiving dinner and shared it and told the stories she remembered about each person and place. My brother said it was the best present and he has given it a place of honor in his room. I think I knocked it out of the park this year.

The red arrow is pointing at my grandmother. I’d love to know who else is in this picture.

People won’t remember what you gave them…but they’ll remember how you loved them and made them feel important and special. Let’s do more of that. Let’s look for the good and the love and the joy and spread it around! Let’s make the world a better place…one little corner at a time.

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“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17 ESV

Photo Credit: Most of these photos were taken by either Harry Barnett or Dave Farrell, prolific local photographers. They are shared by Dan Kemper on the Facebook Page…”Early Parkersburg WV & surrounding area” created by local history buff, Roger Mackey.