Christmas used to be my favorite time of year. I grew up in a small Pennsylvania town and we had those idyllic snowy Christmases. On the Friday night after Thanksgiving, we would go out for dinner at Papa's, a little family owned Italian place, and then go get our tree. It was usually snowing so dad put the tree in the garage so the snow could melt off and the branches could fall. The Saturday after Thanksgiving was our official Christmas decorating day. We would decorate the tree and the house all day as we reminisced about Christmases past. We always included the dog in the decorating and she usually ended up wearing one of the strings of light. At the end of the day when the stockings were hung over the fireplace the tree was lit and mom's Christmas village was all lit up in the front bay window, we would roast hot dogs in the fireplace, put in a Christmas movie, light the candles and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
My dad was a banker and worked in the trust department so during the holidays, many goodies were delivered all through the month of December. Shopping was also a delight as malls were an hour away and our town still had many merchants that carried nice things. There is something about walking the downtown of a small town in the snow with all the Christmas lights. Our town put Christmas lights on all the light poles and it was so quaint. Plus seeing everyone we knew, and as Corny as it sounds, we were all in good cheer.
We also had an official baking day that literally went all day. Of course we had our favorites and every year we tried one new recipe. If we were lucky, we had the snow falling outside, Christmas carols playing inside and the smell of all the wonderful cookies and fudge and Cinnamon rolls. The Cinnamon rolls was my grandmothers recipe and my dad has always loved the dough so we always saved him the raw dough ends bathed in butter, Cinnamon and sugar for when he got home.
My grandparents lived an hour away and the weekend before Christmas, we headed over there for our family Christmas. There were my grandparents of course and my grandmothers 2 sisters and 1 brother and their family, although one of her sisters and their family stopped coming so they could go to the other family.
Then it was my folks and me, my one aunt and uncle and 2 cousins and my other aunt. After munching on goodies, we would open presents, and hound my poor great aunt to death as she was a yard sale addict. I think she was relieved when I brought my husband, then fiance, so the family had someone else to pick on. After presents there was dinner, if we could find some of the guys who snuck away to watch football even though my grandmother forbade it. Then with dinner over and all the extended family gone, we all waited with bated breath as my grandfather gave my grandmother her gift, which was some exquisite piece of jewelry. Then we would watch slides of our family and my grandparents recent travels. They loved to travel and went to many countries, Japan, China, Australia, as well as Alaska and their yearly trip to St. Barts.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was just my folks and me. Some years my mom's folks would come and then of course my husband once we got together. My dad would head into work until meeting us for breakfast before heading back for a short day and my mom and I headed for the grocery store. We had many things still to make and spent the late morning early afternoon doing just that. We prepared h'ordervies for that afternoon once my dad got home, he usually saved his Christmas shopping for Christmas Eve(actually he had already chosen what he wanted, he just had to pick them up). Then the rest of the afternoon was for leftover wrapping or whatever. Then for our Christmas Eve dinner, we would fondue. Then we would watch A Christmas Carol and head to bed.
Christmas Day was more layed back. We got up somewhat leisurely and then had breakfast. We have one of the best recipes for coffee cake. Then we'd open presents and more h'orderves and then finally a wonderful prime rib for dinner.
I have always cherished all of our holiday traditions even though many we no longer can do. Once my husband and I moved to Florida, we discovered Christmas down here was quite different. I got so depressed about it our first couple of years here we both volunteered to work and then we went to the beach. We couldn't go home for Christmas and we were new in our jobs and they were service oriented and that meant open on the holidays.
When we finally were in jobs where we could take time off during the holidays we went back up to PA and did as many as the traditions as we had time for. It was wonderful after having a few years apart. There were a few years where my parents were down here as well and we did all the same stuff just without the cold weather and it was just as nice. Snow would have been nice, but the most important part was being with family.
Everything changed when my folks moved permanently to Florida and in the same month we moved to Alabama(That's a whole nother blog). In Alabama we had colder weather and I had a fireplace again which I loved, but as this was when I began to get very sick and with my husbands new job, we couldn't travel. So we were alone our 2 Christmas's there. Andy and I did all the traditions and it was nice, but it was very lonely.
When we moved back to Florida about an hour from my folks we were hoping to have those traditions back, but with both my mother's and my health so bad, it was impossible. To be honest the last 4 years I would have just rather of not celebrated. We were able to get together but only for about 4 hours each Christmas. Out of necessity we had to scale back and only exchanged a few gifts and had a quick dinner if that. Last year I was unable to stay for dinner as my mom had just gotten out of rehab and I had been driving down constantly to be with her while my dad went to work.
My disease takes so much and I've come to accept the majority of limitations, but I do resent the Holidays. My 2 Aunts and their families still all get together the day after Christmas for a family Christmas and it's in South Carolina. If I was well, we would be able to go. It wouldn't be the same, but it would be family. We have asked them to come down here instead, but that hasn't worked out. I have had hurt feelings about that, but I try to remember that they are trying not to add extra burdens on us. But it still hurts.
This year my folks did come to my home for the second time since we've lived here and the first time in 3 years. I was really happy that they could make it. We had a really nice afternoon. It was shorter than I would have liked, but unfortunately that is all we can do right now.
My dream is to have a Christmas at Rockmere one year. I would love to have all the family come. It would be a lot of work, but I think it would be worth it. Andy and I have said if we buy Boxer's Pause(we've named a cottage that we want to buy at rockmere)that we will go up for some Christmas's.
I try to be grateful that we had those wonderful holidays and even if I never get another one like it, we have those memories, but it is really hard seeing all the family commercials and when you're out and about hearing people talk about their holiday plans. But at least I had those experiences as some never do.
Melissa
My dad was a banker and worked in the trust department so during the holidays, many goodies were delivered all through the month of December. Shopping was also a delight as malls were an hour away and our town still had many merchants that carried nice things. There is something about walking the downtown of a small town in the snow with all the Christmas lights. Our town put Christmas lights on all the light poles and it was so quaint. Plus seeing everyone we knew, and as Corny as it sounds, we were all in good cheer.
We also had an official baking day that literally went all day. Of course we had our favorites and every year we tried one new recipe. If we were lucky, we had the snow falling outside, Christmas carols playing inside and the smell of all the wonderful cookies and fudge and Cinnamon rolls. The Cinnamon rolls was my grandmothers recipe and my dad has always loved the dough so we always saved him the raw dough ends bathed in butter, Cinnamon and sugar for when he got home.
My grandparents lived an hour away and the weekend before Christmas, we headed over there for our family Christmas. There were my grandparents of course and my grandmothers 2 sisters and 1 brother and their family, although one of her sisters and their family stopped coming so they could go to the other family.
Then it was my folks and me, my one aunt and uncle and 2 cousins and my other aunt. After munching on goodies, we would open presents, and hound my poor great aunt to death as she was a yard sale addict. I think she was relieved when I brought my husband, then fiance, so the family had someone else to pick on. After presents there was dinner, if we could find some of the guys who snuck away to watch football even though my grandmother forbade it. Then with dinner over and all the extended family gone, we all waited with bated breath as my grandfather gave my grandmother her gift, which was some exquisite piece of jewelry. Then we would watch slides of our family and my grandparents recent travels. They loved to travel and went to many countries, Japan, China, Australia, as well as Alaska and their yearly trip to St. Barts.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was just my folks and me. Some years my mom's folks would come and then of course my husband once we got together. My dad would head into work until meeting us for breakfast before heading back for a short day and my mom and I headed for the grocery store. We had many things still to make and spent the late morning early afternoon doing just that. We prepared h'ordervies for that afternoon once my dad got home, he usually saved his Christmas shopping for Christmas Eve(actually he had already chosen what he wanted, he just had to pick them up). Then the rest of the afternoon was for leftover wrapping or whatever. Then for our Christmas Eve dinner, we would fondue. Then we would watch A Christmas Carol and head to bed.
Christmas Day was more layed back. We got up somewhat leisurely and then had breakfast. We have one of the best recipes for coffee cake. Then we'd open presents and more h'orderves and then finally a wonderful prime rib for dinner.
I have always cherished all of our holiday traditions even though many we no longer can do. Once my husband and I moved to Florida, we discovered Christmas down here was quite different. I got so depressed about it our first couple of years here we both volunteered to work and then we went to the beach. We couldn't go home for Christmas and we were new in our jobs and they were service oriented and that meant open on the holidays.
When we finally were in jobs where we could take time off during the holidays we went back up to PA and did as many as the traditions as we had time for. It was wonderful after having a few years apart. There were a few years where my parents were down here as well and we did all the same stuff just without the cold weather and it was just as nice. Snow would have been nice, but the most important part was being with family.
Everything changed when my folks moved permanently to Florida and in the same month we moved to Alabama(That's a whole nother blog). In Alabama we had colder weather and I had a fireplace again which I loved, but as this was when I began to get very sick and with my husbands new job, we couldn't travel. So we were alone our 2 Christmas's there. Andy and I did all the traditions and it was nice, but it was very lonely.
When we moved back to Florida about an hour from my folks we were hoping to have those traditions back, but with both my mother's and my health so bad, it was impossible. To be honest the last 4 years I would have just rather of not celebrated. We were able to get together but only for about 4 hours each Christmas. Out of necessity we had to scale back and only exchanged a few gifts and had a quick dinner if that. Last year I was unable to stay for dinner as my mom had just gotten out of rehab and I had been driving down constantly to be with her while my dad went to work.
My disease takes so much and I've come to accept the majority of limitations, but I do resent the Holidays. My 2 Aunts and their families still all get together the day after Christmas for a family Christmas and it's in South Carolina. If I was well, we would be able to go. It wouldn't be the same, but it would be family. We have asked them to come down here instead, but that hasn't worked out. I have had hurt feelings about that, but I try to remember that they are trying not to add extra burdens on us. But it still hurts.
This year my folks did come to my home for the second time since we've lived here and the first time in 3 years. I was really happy that they could make it. We had a really nice afternoon. It was shorter than I would have liked, but unfortunately that is all we can do right now.
My dream is to have a Christmas at Rockmere one year. I would love to have all the family come. It would be a lot of work, but I think it would be worth it. Andy and I have said if we buy Boxer's Pause(we've named a cottage that we want to buy at rockmere)that we will go up for some Christmas's.
I try to be grateful that we had those wonderful holidays and even if I never get another one like it, we have those memories, but it is really hard seeing all the family commercials and when you're out and about hearing people talk about their holiday plans. But at least I had those experiences as some never do.
Melissa
