Heather Kerby is filling in for columnist Carrye Castleman-Ross while she explores Nashville and New Orleans. Castleman-Ross will return next week.

The buzz is in the air and the holiday season is officially underway. Before we know it, we will be making resolutions and smiling fondly on the memories we created. But I must stop myself from rushing forward. It is, after all, the anticipation of things to come that carries the excitement.

There is a pleasant lull between now and the holidays that approach – if we choose to embrace it. My children are certain to maintain a sense of excitement throughout the next several weeks, bubbling with joy, and looking forward to the moment it all comes together. But I find myself pondering – as I often do – the reason for the traditions we hold and keep. I try to understand where they started and why they sustain.

I’m certain that creating new ones takes lots of time and lots of energy, neither of which I have, but I am determined to make this time an experience; not simply a moment, not simply wrappings of gifts and then everything ending abruptly when all is said and done.

My family celebrates Christmas and this past weekend we put up our Christmas tree. We put on some favorite seasonal music and pulled down the boxes over flowing with memories and love. Enjoying the ornaments the kids made over the years. We smiled and laughed and danced. My husband took pictures thus causing the kids to fuss and complain, but he caught the moment nonetheless.

I think about making memories for myself and for my children all the time. Those are the things I want them to remember. The silly toys or goats (yes my daughter asked for a goat!) will be gone and forgotten probably before the day is done, well, maybe not the goat but you know what I mean.

It has to be more than taking every spare moment one has to suit up and step into the wild battle that rages throughout the seasonally drenched stores. Tacky with tinsel and bells, bright, blinking lights that assure us we are about to find the pot of gold. The perfect gift doesn’t exist. There are so many things to want and long for and I think that in the end, mostly they fall short.

The true gifts, the ones that last are the ones that find their way into our hearts. The tangible “products” of today generally don’t meet our expectations and they certainly don’t last. Don’t get me wrong, I got some awesome slippers for my birthday recently and I swear I couldn’t do without, but that’s exactly what I mean.

I could in fact do without them and have, but I like to think (I am even a year wiser) to realize it has little to do with the actual gift I received and has much to do with the thoughtfulness that brought it to me.

My middle child, my son, celebrated his birthday with me last Sunday. Yes, he was born a week late, on my birthday. He had been longing for several things and hoping desperately for a toy car.

He got three toy cars and an hour into play he dropped one (his favorite), it broke and he cried. A few hours later he dropped a second one (I know you would think one of us would figure it out), and that one, broke too. The tears commenced yet again, and his little heart was shattered. It wasn’t until I reminded him of the whole day and the events that took place, not the things he received that he sighed and agreed.

I’m not crazy, of course he still wants his little car and he doesn’t want it broken. I tend to think he would have been happier never having to experience the let down of such a poorly made treasure but I suppose that is a lesson in itself. Less is more and doesn’t it help us appreciate and treasure the simplicity of having a manageable amount?

I just want to encourage the joy that is brought about this time of year especially. Picking out a tree and greeting the day with sweet anticipation of hope. There are many families that want nothing more than to be together right now. To fight their way home to embrace the warmth of the loved ones they treasure so dearly. I think now of the families who have loved ones over in Iraq or Afghanistan and how this holiday will not be the same.

We had some friends stop by just as we were preparing our hot chocolate and I had just removed a pumpkin pie from the oven. The warmth they brought to my heart when they stayed, and made themselves comfortable simply relaxing and taking it all in was awesome. Don’t go crazy trying to get the latest and greatest, don’t waste your time fighting crowds and becoming grumpy only to bring it home to inflict the innocent.

Take that time to sit and just be. Maybe decide to knit a scarf, to draw a picture, find a beautiful stone to paint or bake a pie for someone, instead of buying something fleeting, I promise you they will love it!

If you find yourself not being so crafty, visit the Holiday Craft Fair at old Bridgton town hall on Dec. 1, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Call 743-6176 for more information). Anything home made is always appreciated and buying local is the best gift you can give your neighbors!