Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve Past & Present
In my home growing up Christmas Eve was almost better than Christmas itself. This year I'm home alone with my family scattered between Colorado, California, the beaches of Mexico and Heaven. It's left me time to wander down memory lane and appreciate what we shared as a family.
The thing is...it was never about the presents. I don't remember the presents...okay some of the White Elephants do stick out in my mind, but you know what I mean. We simply enjoyed each other. Mom or Dad would play the piano while we sang Christmas songs. Games were played with rich laughter that still warms my heart.
Everyone contributed a food dish as we congregated at mom and dad's house. Before filling our plates we'd gather hand in hand as a prayer was spoken blessing the food and appreciation of all in our circle...and those that had passed on. Once gathered around the table with filled plates the "Cut Session" commenced.
This time honored silver tongue lashing was misunderstood by newcomers who felt uncomfortable until we dragged them into the word play. Basically it was a trip down memory lane that would embarrass the subject OR it involved telling the parents the truth of some childhood situation. "Well, ya know that scratch in your car I blamed on a parking lot incident? Uhm, well..." It went something like that. Laughter was the point. If you brought a new boyfriend or girlfriend...you knew you would be the target tonight AND tomorrow - embarrassment was then the point. Stories of sticking stuff up your nose, dropping bricks on your siblings head and so on were aimed with precision.
The best part... Love. We gave love. We received love. Love made our family work, no matter how dysfunctional.
Oh, and it was never just our single family unit. We always welcomed friends into the fold of our wacky family. The more, the merrier was the family philosophy. Dad died in 2004 and mom followed in 2010. They were the glue that held our family together and now...we are all separated. I for one miss the old days, but in my missing I've gathered gems from the memories kept in my treasure chest.
This year while I find myself alone, I am thankful for the memories...they are truly grand.
The thing is...it was never about the presents. I don't remember the presents...okay some of the White Elephants do stick out in my mind, but you know what I mean. We simply enjoyed each other. Mom or Dad would play the piano while we sang Christmas songs. Games were played with rich laughter that still warms my heart.
Everyone contributed a food dish as we congregated at mom and dad's house. Before filling our plates we'd gather hand in hand as a prayer was spoken blessing the food and appreciation of all in our circle...and those that had passed on. Once gathered around the table with filled plates the "Cut Session" commenced.
This time honored silver tongue lashing was misunderstood by newcomers who felt uncomfortable until we dragged them into the word play. Basically it was a trip down memory lane that would embarrass the subject OR it involved telling the parents the truth of some childhood situation. "Well, ya know that scratch in your car I blamed on a parking lot incident? Uhm, well..." It went something like that. Laughter was the point. If you brought a new boyfriend or girlfriend...you knew you would be the target tonight AND tomorrow - embarrassment was then the point. Stories of sticking stuff up your nose, dropping bricks on your siblings head and so on were aimed with precision.
The best part... Love. We gave love. We received love. Love made our family work, no matter how dysfunctional.
Oh, and it was never just our single family unit. We always welcomed friends into the fold of our wacky family. The more, the merrier was the family philosophy. Dad died in 2004 and mom followed in 2010. They were the glue that held our family together and now...we are all separated. I for one miss the old days, but in my missing I've gathered gems from the memories kept in my treasure chest.
This year while I find myself alone, I am thankful for the memories...they are truly grand.
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