Christmas 2010

It was a different Christmas. With two dogs in the house Terry did not want to put the packages under the tree for fear they might tear into them. So the packages were in a pile up in our sleeping loft bedroom. When we woke up at 5 AM as is our wont, I went down and made coffee, let the dogs out for their morning pee and checked out what had happened on face book the night before. I took the insulated carafe of coffee with two cups upstairs and Terry suggested she and I open our gifts up there instead of carting them downstairs and then back up again. I like that woman's sense of economy. So we did. It was really rather nice, intimate, cozy and a fun experience sitting near the bed watching each other open our gifts to one another.

The rest of the day was fairly normal. Jessi and her friend (ex-husband) were here and in and out. Terry spent a lot of hours in the kitchen preparing the Christmas feast. We had baked ham, beef brisket and a hearty gumbo that seems to delight our guests as it goes in a hurry. Chips, dips, barbecue baby sausages, along with assorted condiments made for a festive meal.

We served 10 for Christmas dinner. Gift opening when the family is together is a mishmash of paper flying, ohs and ahs, and laughter.

We had very light snow flakes stirring the air throughout the day making the spirit of the season a little more meaningful for me as I grew up with white Christmases. So my 66th Christmas passed on into history. Another day of being with loved ones, sharing some food, drink and gifts. We are not a religious bunch so there is no church going or thoughts of Jesus. But the season is celebrated and the fun of talking with loved ones on the phone, the joy of being with family are probably more what Christmas is about than religion.

I especially enjoyed Terry's new found freedom from work a source of pleasure. There was no great fatigue from having worked Christmas Eve, there was no race to make the meal and clean up afterward because she had to go to work on the 26th. Her time is her's and it is nice to see the pressure and worry of having to go to work removed. This was a good Christmas.

It is almost here!!

This is a recopy of an email I sent my two daughters on December 23, 1999.

Dear Jen & Kris:
I am assuming you are both working today and will be off tomorrow. I just wanted to type a few lines because I know I will be talking to you over the weekend. It is odd, Christmas for me as a kid was a real exciting time. When I was about five or six my Dad ordered from Western Union a telegram from Santa addressed to me telling me he was on his way and would drop by our house later in the night. I can still remember that Christmas Eve night when the knock came to the door. It was dark out, our Christmas tree lights were on and the house was decorated. Dad opened the door and announced that I had a telegram. I went to the door and the man gave me a genuine Western Union telegram in the official envelope. Upon opening it the telegram was indeed genuine, the teletype tape had been cut and pasted as real telegrams were done. It was even in the official language. DEAR TOM STOP I AM LEAVING THE NORTH POLE NOW STOP I WILL BE STOPPING AT YOUR HOME LATER TONIGHT STOP MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR STOP

I cannot tell you the thrill that came over me. It sure put all those doubting playmates to shame. I'll bet they didn't even get a telegram from Santa. The excitement it created in me and the anticipation were almost more than I could bear. I took my telegram to bed, just to make sure the message didn't change.

In the morning our tradition was we could not go downstairs by ourselves. Of course Carol and I were the only kids there. We only had one bathroom, Dad had to go in, wash his face, potty, and otherwise consume eons of time while I tried to sit still with Mother in their bedroom. Then Mom's turn in the bathroom came. Dad sneaked downstairs and turned on the tree lights while I paced and plead with Mother to hurry up. Finally, with Mom leading the way down the stairs we came and whoopee, Santa had actually come. The evidence was overwhelming, the milk had been drunk and the cookies partially eaten.

I could not begin to describe the presents. I am sure they were plenty, and I am sure I had asked for things. In my mind's eye, today I remember the anticipation and excitement, and the feeling of being with family. During this time of year I often find myself thinking of some of those days. I don't remember too many Christmases, however I remember the excitement. There are those who say it isn't healthy for a child to get excited over avarice, but it was more.

On Christmas Eve, as I grew older, there was the evening church service when the altar looked so nice, we sang Christmas carols, and everyone seemed to take a little extra time and wish each other glad tidings. Mom, Dad and I would pile into the car, with me in the back seat. You could eventually feel the heat flow under the front seats, and warm your feet. We would ride around town looking at the lights people had decorated their homes with. I have no idea of the style of decoration, but the lights seemed brilliant and almost blinding.

Other times after church we would stop and the Gibson's or Bakkum's. We would admire their trees, I would drink pop while the grown ups got the hard stuff. We would visit and I would feel like things were all right with the world. So my real remembrances are of people, the decorations, the anticipation excitement, and the music. I remember that on Christmas day after the presents were opened an anticlimactic feeling as the day started to assume the mantel of just another day. However, that all changed in a few hours when friends came, coffee was made, Stolen was sliced and conversations took place. It is those types of memories I wish for you. I guess it simply revolves around security, love and joy. So may your Christmas Eve and Day be as exciting and fun as possible. I love you both very much.

Dad