Mrs. Rivard's Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas
And Mrs. Rivard was nestled, snug in her lonely bed.

“It’s not really Christmas though, “
the sitter on duty thought.
“Christmas in July … who ever heard of such a thing?
But if it makes Mrs. R happy …
and besides ... she’ll probably be gone by December.”

Too bad the nephew and his wife were off on a cruise
to celebrate their 40th … they were always with Mrs. Rivard
on holidays and all the special occasions she loved to celebrate.
But it was unusually sultry this July, even for Natchez.
So she’d encouraged them to go away
“Funded the trip as well” … one sitter had whispered to another
as they changed shifts.
There wasn’t much the sitters didn’t know
at this point.


She had become frail, but still insisted on having the table set
for the meals she seemed less and less interested in eating.
“Just set the little table for one. Make it look Chrismasy,”
Mrs. R. had instructed before she went to bed.

Eloise did her best, using what she could find in the little storage closet.
The one beside the cozy nook off Mrs. R’s bedroom,
where the little table was located … just a few feet from the bed.
“I’ll use one of those old Haviland plates she always liked
and her favorite silverware – that fancy set.”


When Eloise was younger … when they were both much younger …
she would often help serve at the big dinner parties.
Mrs. R would say “Remember, Eloise, fancy silver with plain dishes;
simple patterns with the flowery plates.”

The candles would be lit.
She likes having candles, regardless of the time of day.
She’ll want a lot of them burning today,
since it’s “Christmas.”


Eloise put the tattered mink on the back of the chair.
Just in case the old girl gets chilly from the air conditioning
that never seems to stop running this summer.
She remembered how Mrs. R’s eyes had sparkled
when she showed Eloise the new fur jacket ...
Christmas, 1967 … could it really be that long ago?


She still enjoys having it around her thin shoulders.
Perhaps it makes her feel as if her husband is wrapping
his strong arms around her, protecting her from the world…
from feeling lonely … from thinking about what lies ahead …

China: Theodore Haviland "Shelton"

Flatware: Gorham "La Scala"

Cross: Gorham

Sherbet: Fostoria "Silver Flutes"

Stemware: Fostoria "Wavecrest"

Fur: Borrowed

Crystal Candleholder: Fostoria "Baroque"

Silverplated Candleholder: Junk Store, $2

Crystal elephant: Junk Store, $.50

Wreath: Hobby Lobby (after Christmas clearance)

Tablecloth: Repurposed Drapes, $2

Please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to check out her wonderful beachy tablescape and visit all the participants in Tablescape Thursday!