Christmas Memories

I love the Christmas holiday. I love the smell, the sights, the lights, the decorations, the general Christmas cheer and spirit that seems to be all around. As Colin gets older, yet still doesn't understand all the encompasses Christmas, I think back to my fondest childhood Christmas memories.

When I was a young child each Christmas Eve we would go to my Grandparents house in Park Estates. We would have a family dinner and then attend Christmas Eve service. I think this is where I fell in love with the traditions and true joy of attending the Christmas Eve service. There were four of us children, my brother, my two cousins, and me. It was all we could do to sit still in the service. We all knew at the conclusion of the service that we would return to our Grandparent's house to open presents.

Every year my grandfather would somehow disappear stating that he had to go to the bathroom(but since we were so young and captivated by the Christmas spirit, we rarely noticed.) Suddenly, there would be a knock at the door and a ringing of Santa's bells. Soon Santa would be in living room with a red sack in tow. We couldn't believe our eyes, we were amazed, we were getting an early visit from Santa. He knew all our names, and called us one at a time to sit on his lap and asked us all if we had been good boys and girls (and of course you know how we answered.) Santa would look in his sack and pull out presents for each of us as well as a plastic-shaped candy cane filled with M&Ms. We were so delighted. But soon Santa had to leave, he had to get ready for his big night and would leave. Santa would stand in the doorway, wave goodbye, and let out a jolly "HO, HO, HO."

Even as a child we all knew it was our grandfather, but none of us ever uttered a word that it was him. We became so overwhelmed by the moment that it kept us from saying anything. My Grandmother told us years later after our grandfather had past away that he loved doing it each year and that the suit he borrowed was from a friend who smoked. My grandmother stated that he always complained that it smelled so horribly.

These are my memories. I hope that as a parent I will be able to create vivid and special memories for my child. Even though Colin won't remember this Christmas, it is the things we do, the people we share the time with, the traditions we create and start now that will hopefully build memories for him.

Merry Christmas to all. May your holiday season bring out old and create new memories for you to treasure.