11

From my childhood I have very few memories. I remember putting the baby Jesus in His manger in the crèche. I to this day love nativity scenes and collect them. I remember also being sent for a “nap” while the grown ups (my mom, and older brother and sister) decorated the tree. I do not remember who came, but I do remember that Christmas was the only time we ever had olives in the house! I would decorate one hand with black ones and the other with green ones, and to this day I can not eat an olive, juice, oil or anything else with out getting very ill! I remember one Christmas, I was… I think 5, my older sister and her husband came over. She always spoiled me and that year was no exception. I got a lot of gifts. I remember there was one thing I wanted more than anything else, and Mama had not been able to get it. I wanted a Raggedy Ann doll. I LOVE Raggedy Ann (I wonder if it helps that my middle name is Ann…) I had opened it seemed a ton of gifts and no doll. I was very upset, and a huge brat about it. I do not remember what I said but I do remember leaving the room crying. Once I had calmed down and apologized for being such a baby, one more gift was produced. A set, not just Ann but her brother Andy as well. I did not care so much for him, and he was sadly abused for many years, but I was sooooo happy to get ANN! I am still looking to replace that set; mine was stolen when I left Missouri .

Once Mama was in the nursing home and I was living with said sister, her family had large gatherings. Her home was filled to the rafters with friends and family. She always had a widow or 2 from church over. Those were fun times and those were the days I miss. Every one had a gift, even if it was just a box of chocolate covered cherries (mama’s favorite candy) there was something to unwrap.

After I left home Christmas was still my favorite all out holiday, though the few years before I married I did not do much to mark it. I was lost on the idea of how to celebrate alone.

Once I married I joined in with MJ’s family, and once again had a big day of it, his mom, dad, brother (he was still a kid when we married) and his grandparent on his mom’s side, all gathered together. Sometimes the out of town kids would come but not often.

For my own family, I have always tried to have a wonderful family filled day. We celebrate Christmas Eve here, and go on to grandmas for Christmas day. It is always just the 4 of us, but there is food and fun in plenty! The gifts, most of them are opened with the biggest ones saved for Christmas morning. We have a feast of ham and turkey, with all the trimming (a meal that is duplicated on New Years when we invite friends over to join in!) Extra bread is readied, to take to grandmas the next day. There are pies, cake and cookies for dessert and fruit and veggies and dips for munching, along with crackers and chips.

It seems funny to me how these days are so filled with food! I hope to be able to have my sons and their families here when they move off and begin them. I want to give them some special memories of Christmas at grandmas!

Ah the memories!