The Ghost of Christmas Past...and Present

My Christmas traditions sure have changed over the years. As a kid we'd head off to one grandma's on Christmas Eve. The aunts and uncles and cousins would join us and we'd have dinner, then open presents. Everything was done in an organized way. Presents were opened in turn, with the youngest starting. This gave everyone the opportunity to see what everyone else had gotten, and to enjoy the reactions of those opening presents.

Then it was off to the other Grandma's house. We'd go to church, then head back to her house to have a little snack (sandwiches, Jello, cookies) and open presents. This was a much more chaotic opening of gifts. Everyone opened at once, which was also great fun, but more difficult to focus on what what going on around you.

We'd sleep at Grandma's, and then Christmas Day we'd head over to my aunt's house for dinner. At home later that night, we'd open our presents from Santa. My sister and I were always very spoiled by Santa.

Throughout the years those traditions have changed. The grandmas got older and eventually passed on. Most of the cousins grew up, got married, and had families of their own. Even in recent years the "routine" has varied, depending on where Mom and Dad happen to be living at the time (up here, down in Florida), but in the last ten years or so, we've settled into new traditions and ways to celebrate.

On Christmas Eve my wonderful hubby and I open our presents to each other. Then we head off to my parents' house. My sister joins us there. We spend the day lazing about, have dinner (the meal varies from year to year), and head out to church (if the roads aren't too bad). In the morning we open presents (I have to say that Santa still spoils us!) The organized, methodical way of opening presents has carried over here, and it's as much fun to watch others open their presents as it is to open my own.

After breakfast we head over to the hubby's sister's house. Here chaoes reigns. With sixteen in the family - there's no order to opening presents. But it's a happy chaos. We spend the day, have dinner, and then sometimes we'll watch a movie, or simply head back home.

After two days and a night away, it's a treat to snuggle up on the couch together, and then lay our heads down in our own bed to go to sleep.

So however you and yours are celebrating this year, I wish you a VERY Merry Christmas!

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com