Christmas
We had a call from our daughter about 6:30 Christmas morning informing us they were up. We were to join them for opening Christmas presents so the wife and I ambled over to their home just a couple hundred feet from us. Our granddaughter is eighteen, a Senior in school this year and will be in college next Christmas, so this is probably her last Christmas living at home. Most of the gifts were for her and it was such fun watching her sit in the middle of the floor surrounding herself with wrapping paper as each treasure was exposed for all to see. To me one of the best parts of Christmas has always been watching children opening presents, and this morning was no exception.
The four of us had spent Christmas Eve watching the old classics, "The Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life". My wife had a turkey in the oven slow cooking all night, so we four adjourned to our home for Christmas dinner. Of course we had green bean casserole (one of the first things a Midwestern girl learns to cook). We also had dressing, cranberry sauce, candied yams, hot buttered rolls then pumpkin and cherry pie with whipped cream to finish. So far I've upheld my end of things by diligently over-eating - again. It's been a perfect Christmas.
It's interesting thinking back over the Christmas' of my lifetime from a child believing in Santa Claus, to an older child joining in the gift giving and sharing. Later came marriage, children of our own and the joy of watching their faces Christmas morning.
One year we had a slender Christmas when we were struggling to get a new business off the ground, and the tree was a small cedar cut from the field of a friend. A neighbor gave us some potatoes and a squash he'd raised and a sack of black walnuts he'd shelled. We incorporated his gift into Christmas dinner with mashed potatoes, a squash pie, and a chocolate cake with walnuts in it. He made Christmas special for us that year.
One Christmas the family was in Kentucky and I was in Arizona. We talked that morning, wishing each other a Merry Christmas, but the rest of the day I was by myself. I didn't have a tree or decorations but decided to spend the day meditating, thinking on the blessings of my life and of the season rather than feeling sorry for myself, and it was another wonderful Christmas.
Then there was over twenty years when we might have two, one or none of our children around on Christmas day, and finally everything worked out for us to be with all four of our kids and their respective families on one grand and joyous Christmas at my eldest daughter's home in the wilderness of Northern Arizona. Not exactly the traditional Christmas though. Instead of turkey or ham we'd brought about forty pounds of top sirloin, and our eldest son knows how to cook a steak to perfection regardless of how you want it. We all slept over a couple of nights.
We may never have another Christmas with all of us together, but that's all right too. We get to see each other now and then, only once with all six of us since moving here in 2004, but quite a few times with one or two of the kids around.
Christmas really isn't shared in a locality, but shared in the heart.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas this year.
The four of us had spent Christmas Eve watching the old classics, "The Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life". My wife had a turkey in the oven slow cooking all night, so we four adjourned to our home for Christmas dinner. Of course we had green bean casserole (one of the first things a Midwestern girl learns to cook). We also had dressing, cranberry sauce, candied yams, hot buttered rolls then pumpkin and cherry pie with whipped cream to finish. So far I've upheld my end of things by diligently over-eating - again. It's been a perfect Christmas.
It's interesting thinking back over the Christmas' of my lifetime from a child believing in Santa Claus, to an older child joining in the gift giving and sharing. Later came marriage, children of our own and the joy of watching their faces Christmas morning.
One year we had a slender Christmas when we were struggling to get a new business off the ground, and the tree was a small cedar cut from the field of a friend. A neighbor gave us some potatoes and a squash he'd raised and a sack of black walnuts he'd shelled. We incorporated his gift into Christmas dinner with mashed potatoes, a squash pie, and a chocolate cake with walnuts in it. He made Christmas special for us that year.
One Christmas the family was in Kentucky and I was in Arizona. We talked that morning, wishing each other a Merry Christmas, but the rest of the day I was by myself. I didn't have a tree or decorations but decided to spend the day meditating, thinking on the blessings of my life and of the season rather than feeling sorry for myself, and it was another wonderful Christmas.
Then there was over twenty years when we might have two, one or none of our children around on Christmas day, and finally everything worked out for us to be with all four of our kids and their respective families on one grand and joyous Christmas at my eldest daughter's home in the wilderness of Northern Arizona. Not exactly the traditional Christmas though. Instead of turkey or ham we'd brought about forty pounds of top sirloin, and our eldest son knows how to cook a steak to perfection regardless of how you want it. We all slept over a couple of nights.
We may never have another Christmas with all of us together, but that's all right too. We get to see each other now and then, only once with all six of us since moving here in 2004, but quite a few times with one or two of the kids around.
Christmas really isn't shared in a locality, but shared in the heart.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas this year.
posted by Fish-2 at 7:38 PM
8 Comments:
Your stories brought tears to my eyes, Fish. Man I think you have a wise and wonderful family.
I spent a many Christmases alone or alone in a crowd. Christmas is one of those holidays that make you assess just how you live your life. If you want love and warmth and peace on Christmas, the only way to get it is to live sanely, happily, lovingly in the company of your family the rest of the year.
It took me a long time to get that message and only time and solitude and sadness got it across. God can be a severe teacher.
I do the gauntlet of emotions at this time of year. The frenzy of the pre Christmas rush is my least favorite.
It snowed north of us - but we only got a spit of white, and soon the wind blew it away.
No grandchildren at our house this year - so it was rather quiet.
Walker,
"If you want love and warmth and peace on Christmas, the only way to get it is to live sanely, happily, lovingly in the company of your family the rest of the year"
That is as perfect a comment as I've ever read. A realization too few will ever have. How wize you are.
Pamela, we do seem to live in a society that emphasizes the commercial aspects of the season. We just have to learn to find our own accents and ignore the rest.
Wonderful post, Fish! Thank you.
I haven't posted anything new... I seriously don't have the time as I've still a houseful of company, but I wanted to wish a few of my friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I can see yours was blessed.
Our daughter is home from college for Christmas, and we have friends here from Oklahoma and Maryland, so I'm pretty busy, but in a good way! May God bless you and yours in the coming year and always!
Those Christmas family get togethers are great traditions..after four days with the adult children, the grandkid and the visitor cardiac cat, today was eerily quiet..Peace On Earth?
THANKS Fish, Love ya
Sounds like you had a good one, Fish. And be it Christmas, 4th of July or Boxing Day, when you can be with family on a holiday then that makes it extra special. :-)
Happy New Year to you!
Gayle, it sounds like you've had a special Christmas too. Wonderful.
BB the get-togethers are great, but the quiet after the storm is often a very welcome time too.
AGT, you're so right, and family can be a great blessing.
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