You Are My Sunshine

Have you ever wondered where the last seasonal yuletide greetings, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, go after they are wished? My guess is that the cheery sentiments hang somewhere out there in the frosty air waiting for next season.

Now, we must prepare ourselves as we put up the new calendar, for it is time for the annual clash of the titans. Remember Baby New Year? You know, the pesky fun-loving baby that kept you up past midnight not too long ago? Well, January is the time he does battle with Old Man Winter.

Look around, the signs are there. Even simple sniffles create what seems like endless nighttime coughing spells. In the string of dull gray days, you receive the news that a special glove or mitten has disappeared. The wind, the snow, the icy roads are harbingers. Then, finally the day arrives when the roads are declared not bus-worthy, so schools are closed. That Baby New Year is a little older, a little wiser. He and Old Man Winter are now in cahoots.

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Brace yourself. It might be days before the sun shines and the thermometer rises above freezing. When I was very small, I spent several winters on Frog Hollow Farm with my grandparents. Being an outdoors-loving child, I was restless and grumpy as I moved from window to window looking at the fence posts-turned-snow creatures. My granny had secret knowledge. She knew if she got me busy, that before long my attitude would change. She would say, "You are my sunshine," when I brightened up.

She had many tricks up her sleeve that engaged me and gave me a sense of accomplishment. After we did a "project of some sort," she fixed us hot chocolate and got out a stack of old National Geographic magazines. She'd tell me we were going to visit someplace where it was summer, and the sun was shining. Although, I didn't always grasp the concept of the whole wide world, I did understand about the equator and the flip-flopping of the seasons. I have no idea how many magazines she shared with me. I do remember that I loved Argentina and the fact they had cowboys and kangaroos. I loved Costa Rica because the name was so much fun to say. My granny taught me how to roll my r's.

My favorite follow-the-sun country was Brazil. There were pages of brightly costumed carnival revelers, pages of rainforest pictures, plus the Amazon River and the critters therein. One vivid picture that has stayed with me is the 130-foot-tall Christ the Redeemer statue standing on a very high mountaintop overlooking Rio de Janeiro. I would like to think it was the religious significance, but it was not. I would try to figure out how tall 130 feet was. My wise old granny gave me a 12-inch ruler, and I would measure foot by foot around the farm house.

After awhile, she'd tell me to bring my sunshine to the table for a tropical treat. I beheld with great excitement at my place a pineapple ring fresh from the can, topped with grated cheddar cheese and a sprinkle of coconut on a little milky green glass plate.

Although times have changed and kids approach things differently, two things remain constant. There will be long spells of really dreary, house-confining, attitude-producing winter days, and National Geographic can still take us away to sunny places.

There is an excellent Web site, www.kids.nationalgeographic.com, which will take you to many sunny countries including Brazil. This kid-friendly site is easy to navigate. The Web site features pictures, facts, travelogue style videos of many places and yes, a picture of the Christ the Redeemer statue.

In Brazil, futebol (soccer, as we know it) is the most popular team sport. According to the National Geographic site, Brazil has won the prized World Cup soccer competition five times. In 2014, Brazil will be in the spotlight as the country is scheduled to host the World Cup finals. Brazil's talented player, Pele, gained world acclaim for his soccer skills.

Many children's games leap over language or geographical barriers. Perhaps your children will find it interesting that Brazilian children play dominoes, checkers and jump rope just as we do. Everyone enjoys a tall tales and folklore. We tell our children tales of that jolly Appalachian trickster, Jack. That fellow has had many adventures beyond buying magic beans. I have heard in storytelling circles that Brazilian folklore tradition includes a "Jack-like" mischievous prankster who can slip through the keyhole of any door and create havoc by putting out the fire in the fireplace, blowing out candles or flicking the lights on and off.

On a gray winter day, you and the children can become sun seekers, armchair explorers.

Somewhere in this world the sun is shining so bring that sunshine back into the faces in your home. Get out the homemade rhythm instruments, put on a little mambo, samba or other rhythmic Latin music, and dance. Soon those bored, grumpy little faces are sweaty and smiling.

It's time for a refreshing tropical treat. The easy way is to use your favorite smoothie recipe substituting "tropical" fruit. Try to keep the kids actively engaged. If they slip out of the moment, they may slide back to Grumpy Town.

Have the kids prepare a tropical fruit party plate. So much of the fun is in the creating process. Some familiar 'tropical' fruits include grapes, banana slices, pineapple chunks and orange segments. Go exotic with mangoes or papaya, if you have them. Place fruits on tooth picks to make a festive plate. Don't forget cheese chunks. Why not put out small dipping bowls filled with shredded coconut, chocolate sprinkles or ground nuts?

Behold the smiling faces! They are your sunshine on a winter day.

Heidi Maness Hartwiger, a Wheeling native, is a writer, teacher and storyteller. She is the author of two books, "All Join Hands: The Forgotten Art of Playing With Children" and "A Gift of Herbs." She is a mother of four and a grandmother of five.