December is a wonderful time of the year

December is here – with that most wonderful time of the year (to quote a song) and there are some wonderful times scheduled at the Fosston Community Library Arts Center.

If you enjoy Christmas music ( and who doesn't, unless you are the Grinch), make plans to attend a special Christmas recital by Orland Aspen's vocal students on Sunday, December 11, at 7 p.m. This event is free and refreshments will be served.

The current display in the Sorenson Gallery isn't strictly for the holidays, but its bright colors are just what we need to see during these winter days. The artist is Darlene Busch, who currently lives in Billings, Montana. She is originally from Climax and has relatives in the Fosston area. Some of these abstract paintings are on loan from them.

Book club holiday meeting will be Tuesday, December 13, at 7 p.m. Bring a treat to share and come discuss The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom.

Writers' group will not meet in December, but may resume in January if there is enough interest. Here is a poem I wrote last year at this time. Maybe it will inspire you to think, “I could do better than that.”

Christmas Memories

The odor of lutefisk wafts through the air

An unpleasant aroma to me

Although there are others that find it quite fair

And it does smell like Christmas, you see.

The aunts and the uncles most surely ate some

Of that “fish” that my grandmother cooked.

As each Christmas Eve to the farm they did come,

And the lefse was not overlooked.

My parents, my sisters, my cousins were there

The kids all so glad for meatballs,

Potatoes with gravy, dill pickles - such fare -

Even with butter that “fish” it appalls.

The kitchen was busy - baking was done-

Flatbread and Julekage we ate

Krumkake, fattimand (you can’t have just one )-

Sandbakkles and spritz all on a plate.

But to the little ones ’twas not just the meal.

Despite being special, it was too long,

The waiting and waiting became an ordeal.

We wanted those presents - Was that so wrong?

Excitement, excitement- Wait with the dishes -

The tree with the presents is calling.

We needed to know: Would we get our wishes?

Packages, packages - what did they all bring?

Those days of my childhood are so long gone now

With lutefish not on our menu

But just a brief whiff of that scent will allow

Time to turn back for a moment or two.

Also in December:

-Merry Christmas storytime, Friday, December 16, 10:30 a.m.

-Chess holiday gathering – Tuesday. December 20, 3:30 p.m.

-Saturday, December 24, & Monday, December 26, library closed for the Christmas holiday.