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Christmas Memories…

christmas3adg.knqery .Oh, the weather outside is frightful…

Well, maybe not! We have finally hit 50° here in San Antonio, so at least we need to wear jackets! Not quite frightful, but at least getting closer to what it should be at this time of year.

As Christmas nears, I have been thinking back to when I was young and my family would go to my grandmother’s house in Northwood, Iowa. Christmas at my grandmother’s house was everything a Christmas should be. The snow falling gently to the ground (I didn’t have to shovel!), the cookie tins full of her delicious treats that magically appeared every year, getting to sleep in the same room as my older sister, visiting the town’s library with my grandmother; those are the types of memories I cherish.

This is a nostalgic time of year for all of us. It’s a time when a lot of us reflect on the people who have been sprinkled throughout our lives, some of them no longer with us, but all of them still in our hearts. I try hard not to miss those people who were so dear to me, and instead, I try to focus on the memories I still have of them, and enjoy the memories I’m making today.

Comments

  1. Thanks for this posting. This year will be the first Christmas without 2 of my uncles, 2 of my aunts, and 1 of my brother in laws. Memories of each of them are so fresh on my mind. Especially the aunt who taught me to love reading and quilting. I still leave the bookstore thinking that I need to call Aunt Sue and tell her not to buy a certain book and that I bought it and will bring it to her soon. Those memories keep each of these special people alive in my heart.

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  2. I love the simple memories at Christmas – beautiful reflection on trying not to miss the people we’ve lost. Those memories connect us to the past, the present, and what we anticipate for 2015. Thanks for a great year of cozy mystery info and tips! Merry Christmas!

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  3. Christmas memories are among my best. For some years we went to my grandmother’s (Dad’s parents). They had an apartment in Brooklyn. There were Dad, his four sisters, 13 of us grandchildren and respective spouses. That made 25 of us. The aunts all brought something, and there were presents too. Dad’s parents came from England, so they lit the plum pudding. This sat in a soup dish and bobbed up and down in whiskey, so it burned for some time. I loved those Christmases.

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  4. I have many happy memories of Christmas. When I was young I attended the children’s Mass on Christmas morning. In High School, I finally could go to Midnight Mass. What a thrill as at midnight the choir sang out Gloria , this was Christmas.
    However I would like to share a Christmas memory. In 1942, I was given a toy nurse’s kit. It came equipped with all kinds of medical supplies among which was a bottle of candy pills. I began to play nurse and my older brother taking pity on his young sister agreed to play patient. He ate the pill I offered. That simple gesture caused mayhem in our household. Why? In those pre-Vatican days, you could only receive communion after fasting from midnight. My brother had been chosen to be head altar boy at solemn High Mass and now could not receive communion in front of the whole church. What stress that little pill. In our family that Christmas was always remembered as “The Christmas Regina caused a problem”.

    Reply

    • Regina, oh my gosh! I bet you thought you had caused the worse catastrophe ever! At least they remembered you as only causing a problem that Christmas, and I’m sure you all chuckled about it years later. (I’m not sure if I should say this, but it sounds like a very sweet story!)

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  5. It’s mid 30s up here in MinneSNOWta and it feel like Spring!!! When I was young (er), we’d go to my Mom’s sister’s home and have Christmas on her side of the family. The Swedish heritage always came through with a traditional lutefisk supper (which I still won’t eat), the kids waiting impatiently while dishes were washed, opening presents, and going to the late Christmas service. On Christmas Day, we’d go to my paternal grandparents house to have Christmas on that side of the family. I always felt very fortunate to have all of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins within a 10-mile radius!
    And then I married a man who is half Swedish and half Norwegian so back to lutefisk!! At least my MIL (who was a fabulous cook) always had great meatballs, too! They lived 5 hours away, so then we’d spend Thanksgiving w/my parents, and Christmas w/the in-laws (whom I loved very much).

    Reply

    • Kay C, I had to look up “lutefisk” and was surprised at how many days it takes to prepare. My grandmother came from Sweden, and I’m glad she didn’t pass that tradition down to my mom! Preparing that fish sounds like a whole lot of work! You were truly fortunate to have your family all living so close to you.

      Reply

  6. Thanks for sharing, everyone – I guess you know from my great age (I’ll be 88 in March) there are lots of differences in celebrating Christmas to take part in, enjoy, and remember too – I love every one of them and wish all of us love and good times together.

    Reply

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