While most of us are busy running the malls and specialty stores in hopes of finding the “Oh” so perfect gifts for the ones we love, I find myself feeling a bit overwhelmed with the holidays. Don’t get me wrong I am very excited to celebrate the holiday with my family and friends...it is simply that each and every year I have an incredible amount of pressure to look back on my many Christmas pasts. I find myself and I am sure many of you do the same, looking back at Christmas from my own childhood eyes. What was for me the most incredible time of my life; Christmas has carried the fondest memories of my youth. The traditions in which are set in stone with my own family before marriage, before my own children. I love each and every memory of what my Christmas meant to me. I can only remember a few of the gifts I received but what I do remember was the joy in my home. The joy that my parents created each and every year, the traditional baked goods, the dinner, midnight mass...the visiting but mostly the love I felt for my parents and for my siblings.
It seems to be the only time of the year that people just want to be good, the generosity that happens each holiday season is like no other time of the year. The donations, the hampers...the need to reach out to the less fortunate are what the true meaning of Christmas is. I just wish I was a millionaire, there are so many people that I would love to give to. Mostly I wish that I could have one last Christmas with the people that are no longer with me. The idea of spending Christmas with my grandparents one last time knowing it was their last, or to spend even a moment by the tree with my friend...that would be amazing. This year I am making this my last Christmas, not to be morbid...just to make sure that I do everything with everyone I love. I believe in making memories. The thoughts of my Christmas celebrations as a child are forever etched in my heart and soul. They carry me through the darkest of days. Christmas is about loving and spending time with people you love; it is never about the gifts or the obligation of giving a gift. No one ever remembers from year to year what exactly it was they received.
Christmas Eve 1972, Pepe Levesque Dressed as Santa bringing treats
Our beautiful 60's Tree
The 3 Sisters Peggy, Debbie, Chrissy 1973
I remember looking through the Sears Christmas Wish List Catalogue as a child but would have never dared to make a want list. The excitement, well for me anyways, wasn’t about the gifts it was about my siblings and I all in our new pj’s sitting in the living room with my folks, the energy of togetherness was the gift.
The thought of my beautiful mother sitting in her flannels on the lazy boy brings tears to my eyes.
Merry Christmas My Beautiful Mother!
The anticipation of getting dressed and heading to my ma mere’s house to gather with the rest of my mother’s family was the even better gift. The entire family housed in what was literally a shoe box was exhilarating.
The Cutest Kid EVER (cough, cough)
My mom’s parents are no longer with us, and truthfully once ma mere passed Christmas was never quite the same. However, having just realized this my children anticipate the same excitement about attending my parents home on Christmas Eve, so I guess my ma mere lives on through my mom. I can only hope that someday my mother lives on through me and my Christmas traditions.
Yes I drive my children crazy each and every day leading up to Christmas, with the Elvis Christmas CD paying over and over, and the crafts, the baking, the ugly Christmas shoes and vests. The excessive over playing of my 8mm Christmas childhood silent home videos, and yes the leaking of the eyes! I cry at commercials this time of year! I want to hug and kiss and wish everyone a Merry Christmas! It is truly the only time of the year we can just be nice for no apparent reason. Just drop a Merry Christmas to a complete stranger and they smile, try hugging someone in March and they will have you committed! Right now it is like a free for all! Hugging and kissing and just being HAPPY! So take advantage of it and take it all in...... (maybe I am eating to many baked goods, I sound like I am on a sugar high)
Take the time this Christmas Holiday Season to just stop and take in the company you share your time with. Put your differences aside and find peace while celebrating Christmas. Life can stop on a dime, so treat this Holiday with the ones you love like it’s the last. Create memories and share as much joy as you can. Christmas is a magical time of the year if we see the Holiday as it was truly meant to be. So put on your ugly Christmas sweater, put up with your out laws, crack open a spirit, bring out the child in you this year, get some mistletoe and love everyone and everything around you and have the time of your life! Please.
Merry Christmas to you, May the Joy and Peace of This Holiday radiate upon you.
~Christine~
