During the holidays, I have a tendency to reflect on Christmas memories.  Over the years our family traditions have changed from year to year.  I know for some reflecting on the past can be happy or a sad time. I would say that my childhood and adult memories are very happy. 

When I was a child, my mother worked at Sears and always seemed to get great gifts at reduced prices for Christmas.  Usually the gifts revolved around a theme.  When I was very young it was cowboy suit, gun, and the whole works except for the horse.  In later years, it was a football outfit which included the shoes, pants, pads, shirt and helmet.  I was ready for prime time except I wasn’t very good.  My poor friends had to put up with me all decked out trying to play football.  Some of them were lucky just to get a football for Christmas.  As I grew older, it was a go-cart.  On that Christmas, my Dad told me to drive only in our yard.  I drove around the house one time and then was going down the road.  My parents had a real heart to heart with me about obeying them.  Then later there was an Allstate motor scooter which I was expected to help pay for with a paper route.  I got the scooter and the paper route lasted about 6 months.  I had a real problem with committements.

I remember the great meals during the holidays.  On Christmas day, we had lunch with my Aunt Mary and Uncle Elbert which included other Aunts, Uncles and Grandmother on my Mother’s side of the family.  My Aunt Mary’s specialty, besides the fixings, was a coconut cake.  She actually purchased a coconut and broke it open with a hammer and scraped out the coconut for preparing the cake.  It was so good and she always beamed when I asked for second helpings.  I guess that made it worth all the effort.  She and all the others have since passed and that tradition has ceased.

Currently we have a tradition of going to my mother-in-law’s house on Christmas Eve.  It is still a family tradition that has been around for a long time.  My wife is one of eleven and all of her brothers and sisters plus their children try to fit into a modular home for supper and to exchange gifts. It gets so hot with all the bodies that her brother usually opens the front door to allow some December cold air into the house.  I know this tradition will not last forever because her Mother is getting up in age. I don’t know if anyone will continue this tradition but we do enjoy it while we can.

This year we have a new daughter-in-law.  My oldest son who will be 39 this Christmas Eve was married in 2007.  This was the first and only marriage for both of them so it is very special for us.  Charity is a wonderful addition to our family.  We will get together with them and my youngest son with our grandchildren on Christmas day.  This could be the start of a new tradition.

I think the holidays are a good time to be grateful for our family and their traditions because they don’t last forever.  I want to focus on enjoying this holiday because I know it will be tomorrow’s memory and I want to make it a good one.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

~Marc