Artists Passion

‘Twas the third night of Chanukah and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Okay, my cats were probably stirring last night, just without me.

I was volunteering my time to an arts and crafts booth at a local holiday event. Not the selling variety of arts and crafts booth, but the children-do variety. I helped a bunch of children glue foam leaves to paper plates for three hours, scarfed down a cold hotdog and a flat soda, and wished the line for Santa wasn’t so long, so I could take a picture with him for my mom.

Why, in the name of all that is good and pure in the world, why would I subject myself to babysitting somewhere around 500 kids wielding bottles of glue and tiny red berries made out of what looked like lint?

The answer: I’m selfish.

The building we were in for the event was set up like a castle. Bubble “snow” fell from the ceiling. There were costumed characters, a small train set up for young passengers, games all over the place, and a store set up with toys and trinkets usually overpriced in the stores at the perfect prices for the little ones to buy with their allowance. In addition to the arts and crafts area I was in, there was a coloring book station, a scrapbooking station, and a cookie decorating station. The food was served in a huge, fairy tale ballroom where The Polar Express was playing on theater-sized screens. Everywhere I looked, faces were filled with wonder.

I highly recommend for everyone reading this to volunteer somewhere this holiday season. It’s a much better high than overeating or unwrapping an iPod. I always try to volunteer at an event with children, because they get the most out of the holidays. They still believe in the magic of the holidays, whether it be Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza, or the secular Santa Day.

Unfortunately, I never did get that picture with Santa.

Here are some more holiday themed posts: with Chanukah almost half over, Christmas is just 18 days away. For the most part, my own Christmas-type presents are wrapped and ready to go. And, Cyndi at Bead Arts has listed some sites with suggestions for gifts that sparkle with creativity.