Spirits | Inside Yankee
Every issue of Yankee takes on a life of its own. Sometimes we plan it that way, when, for instance, we start with a theme in mind and then plump up the pages with stories that fit. But more often, it’s as though the individual stories hold a secret meeting without inviting any of us, […]
Every issue of Yankee takes on a life of its own. Sometimes we plan it that way, when, for instance, we start with a theme in mind and then plump up the pages with stories that fit. But more often, it’s as though the individual stories hold a secret meeting without inviting any of us, and agree to all head toward the same destination, with no concern if the rest of us catch on. With this issue, I have a hunch that maybe the theme that swirled around in that meeting (probably late at night when our building was dark and silent) was “spirit.”
“December 1941” (p. 20) probably pointed out that just as the people of Keene, New Hampshire, readied for Christmas, bombs rained down on a distant Honolulu harbor and suddenly the people in every city, town, and village across the land saw their lives change forever. Yet even as they faced war, neighbors sang carols together, mirroring what would continue to happen everywhere—a determination to carry on.
No doubt “Life in the Kingdom” (p. 16) murmured, too. Readers who have followed the Hewitt family as they worked their Vermont homestead and then made their surprising decision to build anew, will see how they used fortitude, determination, and sheer spirit to move in with their animals in what became their very own manger. I suspect “Life in the Kingdom” was quite proud to have made that analogy.
I am sure “A Vermont Family Christmas” (p. 32) and “Christmas in Boston” (p. 108) and even “The New England Holiday Kitchen” (p. 58) clamored to be heard. The essence and spirit of both Thanksgiving and Christmas flow through each of these. Boston shimmers during the holidays even as the footsteps of winter have us reaching for light earlier each day. Just as the citizens in a small New Hampshire town came together to light a tree 75 years ago, so too, in these politically fractured days, do Bostonians. If ever a city glows with music and festive lights and a sense of deep tradition, it is here.
Finally, I am certain that both “Angels Among Us” (p. 130) and “The Way Back” (p. 124) said simply, “We understand what it’s like to find light wherever it shines.” All these stories carry their own voice, their own spirit. From all of us here at the rambling red building in Dublin to wherever you are holding these pages, we wish you happiness this season and hope that our stories speak to you as well. Just listen.
Mel Allen, Editor editor@YankeeMagazine.com
Mel Allen
Mel Allen is the fifth editor of Yankee Magazine since its beginning in 1935. His first byline in Yankee appeared in 1977 and he joined the staff in 1979 as a senior editor. Eventually he became executive editor and in the summer of 2006 became editor. During his career he has edited and written for every section of the magazine, including home, food, and travel, while his pursuit of long form story telling has always been vital to his mission as well. He has raced a sled dog team, crawled into the dens of black bears, fished with the legendary Ted Williams, profiled astronaut Alan Shephard, and stood beneath a battleship before it was launched. He also once helped author Stephen King round up his pigs for market, but that story is for another day. Mel taught fourth grade in Maine for three years and believes that his education as a writer began when he had to hold the attention of 29 children through months of Maine winters. He learned you had to grab their attention and hold it. After 12 years teaching magazine writing at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, he now teaches in the MFA creative nonfiction program at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Like all editors, his greatest joy is finding new talent and bringing their work to light.
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