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Date Posted: 22:56:17 12/23/11 Fri
Author: The Chief
Subject: Was talking about this subject with my family over Thanksgiving...
In reply to: Cece, hoping you all have a Wonderful Christmas! 's message, "When I was little, every Christmas was magical, even though by today's standards, they were very modest. I got lovely presents from Father Christmas. They were never wrapped, as FC always had unwrapped toys sticking out of his sack. (inside)." on 19:38:55 12/23/11 Fri

... We've never had real big traditions of gathering with a lot of family on holidays, simply because we're all too far flung. We have traveled for Thanksgiving on occasion, but not more than half a dozen times in 20 years. Most of our Thanksgiving meals have been fairly simple, food-wise. No fancy recipes, just the basics, and, with the exception of the turkey, mostly from boxes and cans and jars. I will make real mashed potatoes if I'm feeling ambitious, but not usually. We don't have a set time for the meal, either, but sometime between 2 and 5.

At Christmas, we're usually in our own home, with wrapping paper everywhere, and a policy of "pjs for three days" LOL. Sometimes I don't even do a big dinner because we're too busy "playing" with our new stuff, and it's hard to serve turkey and all the trimmings when there are three half-built Lego projects on the dining room table! We've had everything from beanie-weenies to breakfast for Christmas dinner. I started serving the "big meal" on Christmas eve instead.

The point is that, even tho our celebrations are simple and sometimes quirky or "non-traditional" (we don't even watch football), we always have them, we're always together, and we always have fun.

It may even be boring, but it's consistent. I don't remember having fancy or extravagant meals or gatherings growing up either, but the consistency of the holiday celebrations is like one big long memory, skipping from year to year like a flat stone across a smooth pond. And I think providing that *consistency* is what is really important for the kids. And for us. The ritual of it sinks deep into our hearts and psyches and provides stability and comfort and hope.

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[> Daddy passed away Aug 30 so this is the first Christmas without him. To make it doubly hard tomorrow would have been his 76th birthday. Been crying alot this last week. -- Valerie, 06:03:42 12/24/11 Sat [1]


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