I know many families celebrate Christmas before the actual date. This year we are celebrating it on its date but that may change in the future. My daughter, Christina, is coming home but won't be here until 11ish on Christmas eve. But I am very excited to see her since it has been a long time.
Today is wrapping a few gifts and figuring out the menu for Eve and Day and getting to the grocery store before it closes at 6pm plus cleaning up the upstairs for our visitors.
I have written about old time Christmas's which hold terrific memories. I miss my parents and grandparents this time of year. We always had such fun. I miss my brothers and now their families. We each have our own traditions in celebrating the holidays. Maybe in the future we will be able to all get together for Christmas or Thanksgiving or Easter.
Well, the presents won't wrap themselves. Have a Merry Holiday!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Holidays and Cheer
I have never been a "true" fan of Christmas. Don't get me wrong, getting gifts is great as well as giving gifts but to me that holidays should be more about gathering and memories.
Memories of my first Christmases:
One year while bunking in my brother's room (my room hadn't been completed upstairs yet) I swore I would stay awake until Santa arrived. My little brother fell asleep right away but I remember laying there on the top bunk with the light on, staring at the light bulb for what seemed like hours. I must have fallen asleep, not realizing it, because I climbed down the ladder later...tiptoed to the bedroom door...creaking it open ever so carefully..peeking over my shoulder to make sure my brother was still asleep...I cautiously walked up the stairs to check out the Christmas Tree. In all it lit glory the tree stood tall and wondrous. I saw Santa had already arrived and brought many special presents for my three brothers and I. I went further up the stairs to view the stockings and saw they were over-flowing with presents and goodies. My parents never knew of my Christmas early morning adventure and I didn't go any further than the top of the stairs near the tree. It was amazing to be the first to see the tree before its beauty would be destroyed by ripped wrapping paper.
Another favorite Christmas is the year I received my very own desk. It reminds me of the desks in the schoolhouse on the Museum grounds but modernized. It had a lid the opened up for storage and an attached seat. But the best part of this gift was what was sitting on the desk. My first typewriter! I wiled away many hours pecking at its keys bringing to life various short stories and letters. It was one of my favorite gifts I have ever received.
In Middle School in Lancaster, New York I was determined to become a police officer. My brothers all received varied "toys" for their ages, Kelly a new bike (again), Frank collections of Star Wars items and Chris a CB. I was so disappointed I didn't receive any toys this Christmas only clothes. There was one last gift under the tree with my name on it and it was shaped like a box. I hung my head as I reached for it imagining it was more tights or a skirt. As I picked up the "box" it was very heavy. I looked at my mom and she just smiled. I sat down by the tree and tore off the wrapping and inside were two books. The books were practice tests for taking the Police Officer exams. I didn't need any toys...I spent hours reading and re-reading the books. Santa had done it again and made this little girl happy.
We used to travel to celebrate Christmas with my grandparents that lived on the old farm place 3 hours east of Lancaster. Sometimes these travels were exhausting for my parents having to pack up all the Christmas presents and travel in the middle of the night while us kids slept in the back. One winter there was a terrible blizzard as we were leaving Western New York on I-90. Dad was determined to get to Freetown and we headed out. This is the first year I stayed awake listening to my parents "discuss" Dad's driving skills and the treacherous roads. Wide-eyed in the back seat with my brothers sleeping soundly around me I felt like I held my breath the whole trip. 5 hours later we were safe in my grandparents driveway. Santa came on schedule that morning and I am sure there are photographs taken that day of celebrating.
More memories I love to bring to light during the Holidays. Family traditions alter over the years but I cherish each new experience and memory.
Memories of my first Christmases:
One year while bunking in my brother's room (my room hadn't been completed upstairs yet) I swore I would stay awake until Santa arrived. My little brother fell asleep right away but I remember laying there on the top bunk with the light on, staring at the light bulb for what seemed like hours. I must have fallen asleep, not realizing it, because I climbed down the ladder later...tiptoed to the bedroom door...creaking it open ever so carefully..peeking over my shoulder to make sure my brother was still asleep...I cautiously walked up the stairs to check out the Christmas Tree. In all it lit glory the tree stood tall and wondrous. I saw Santa had already arrived and brought many special presents for my three brothers and I. I went further up the stairs to view the stockings and saw they were over-flowing with presents and goodies. My parents never knew of my Christmas early morning adventure and I didn't go any further than the top of the stairs near the tree. It was amazing to be the first to see the tree before its beauty would be destroyed by ripped wrapping paper.
Another favorite Christmas is the year I received my very own desk. It reminds me of the desks in the schoolhouse on the Museum grounds but modernized. It had a lid the opened up for storage and an attached seat. But the best part of this gift was what was sitting on the desk. My first typewriter! I wiled away many hours pecking at its keys bringing to life various short stories and letters. It was one of my favorite gifts I have ever received.
In Middle School in Lancaster, New York I was determined to become a police officer. My brothers all received varied "toys" for their ages, Kelly a new bike (again), Frank collections of Star Wars items and Chris a CB. I was so disappointed I didn't receive any toys this Christmas only clothes. There was one last gift under the tree with my name on it and it was shaped like a box. I hung my head as I reached for it imagining it was more tights or a skirt. As I picked up the "box" it was very heavy. I looked at my mom and she just smiled. I sat down by the tree and tore off the wrapping and inside were two books. The books were practice tests for taking the Police Officer exams. I didn't need any toys...I spent hours reading and re-reading the books. Santa had done it again and made this little girl happy.
We used to travel to celebrate Christmas with my grandparents that lived on the old farm place 3 hours east of Lancaster. Sometimes these travels were exhausting for my parents having to pack up all the Christmas presents and travel in the middle of the night while us kids slept in the back. One winter there was a terrible blizzard as we were leaving Western New York on I-90. Dad was determined to get to Freetown and we headed out. This is the first year I stayed awake listening to my parents "discuss" Dad's driving skills and the treacherous roads. Wide-eyed in the back seat with my brothers sleeping soundly around me I felt like I held my breath the whole trip. 5 hours later we were safe in my grandparents driveway. Santa came on schedule that morning and I am sure there are photographs taken that day of celebrating.
More memories I love to bring to light during the Holidays. Family traditions alter over the years but I cherish each new experience and memory.
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