Christmas Memories

Growing up, Christmas was a really big deal in my family. My dad especially really enjoyed buying us presents and doing the whole Santa Claus thing.

Christmas started with the family Christmas photo. We'd all get dressed up - either in fancy clothes or matching something (often nightgowns) and pose for what seemed like hours while Dad or one of his friends go the perfect shot. The out takes were often a lot better than the "perfect" picture chosen for the card.

My fourth Christmas gift was a baby sister. I remember not being too thrilled about the disruption to my Christmas schedule. Dad made his favorite recipes (grilled cheese sandwiches and soup spaghetti) and I spent Christmas with my maternal grandparents.
I remember one year spotting some odd boxes in a closet ("Mom, what does G-A-M-E spell?) and after that the Santa gifts were stashed at Dad's office downtown. Family gifts got opened at 6pm on Christmas Eve and invariably Dad would have to go buy batteries around 5:30. This meant delaying the gift opening and lots of impatience.

Since Diane's birthday was Christmas Eve, she got to choose the dinner. I remember years of tuna casserole since that was her favorite. Fortunately, later on we switched to the more standard meal of turkey or ham.
We didn't have a lot of extended family around so it was usually just us or maybe my cousin Bill. I do remember being upset one year when we were at a cousin's house Christmas Eve. I was convinced Santa wouldn't find me and insisted we go home early. I think we stayed home after that.
My parents kept the Santa Claus story going for years and the rule was that once you turned 12 or 13, you were let in on the secret and got to be "Santa's helper." I think I would have held onto the story longer but those were the rules.
I remember my Dad giving me "The Prophecies of Nostradamus" and a Living Bible one Christmas when I was in my mid-teens. I think he wanted me to be well-rounded. I think I enjoyed the year I got the race car set and doll canopy bed more (when I was five or so) but I appreciated the books.
I think Christmas as a family/gift giving holiday became less important in my teens as we started having more friends and activities during the holiday season. But looking back, it's those early Christmases with my sisters and parents that I remember most fondly.
Now my family is all out of state and it's rare for me to spend Christmas with them. This year, Marie and I are planning to enjoy a Christmas Eve dinner on our own and Christmas Day with good friends. I hope you all have a joyous and blessed holiday season  however you choose to celebrate!