A Wreath on the Rabbit Patch Door | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: Michele Rhem is an eloquent writer who presents us with her poignant memoirs of the Rabbit Patch, where her diaries weave tales of a simpler, expressive life lost to many, but gathered together in her most familiar environs - the Rabbit Patch.

    At last, the rabbit patch declares that the Christmas season is upon us. There is a wreath on every door with little twinkling lights that brighten the late autumn fog. I added a little tree with lights tonight, to the porch of the farmhouse. The effect is cheerful, as it ought to be at Christmas.

    I have tied red ribbons on bird feeders and lanterns in the yard. Not long afterwards, a strong wind started blowing and the ribbons are tattered because of it. Still, they add a charming touch. Somehow they seem in the natural state of things on the rabbit patch.

    There is a lot more to do still. Tomorrow is Kyle's birthday and the day the tree is put up. This tradition started when he was around four and now it seems "a law" of sorts. I suppose I will always abide by it, as it would not feel right to do so on any other day.

    I do have more than a few presents to wrap. The shopping trip with my mom, sisters and niece was a sweet success, in more ways than one. We arrived in Rocky Mount in the first part of the morning. At the first store, while checking out, I discovered that the credit card had expired in November. I am not in the habit of using it-or checking the mail either, so such a thing could be expected. At this very moment, I remembered my bank card was on the morning table-at the rabbit patch. I had a little cash, so it was my destiny, to do a little shopping. Actually, I shopped more carefully and focused more on visiting, than usual. This may have been my favorite trip. I have been striving to live more simply and without money, this was assured that day. I did manage to buy some fine chocolate to improve our spirits-and it worked. We cast our weariness aside and headed straight a way for a donut shop.

    We shopped longer than the sun shined that day. Hayley and I browsed in the book store together and I was thrilled that she is still writing-though she said "not the way you do"-she writes in a journal and prefers prompts. I was glad to hear this and also to hear she still enjoys crafts. Connie, my youngest sister , loves pretty dishes as I do and so we spent some time admiring kitchen items. Delores and I purchased the chocolate and shopped for fancy soap. Mama told the story of her mom, buying me my first coat-a red one, and later a high-chair from a store that closed a long while ago. She told it tenderly and I realised that no matter how many Christmases have passed, she still misses my grandmother.

    I had no problem falling asleep last night. I thought how the day was a good one. I thought of all the little parts of it that made it beautiful and it seemed to me, that a lack of money did not prevent me from getting gifts, after all.