And now I ask all readers to share their favorite Christmas memories. And if you are a Christian I ask, in addition, whether you think the giving and exchanging of gifts detracts from celebrating the birth of Christ.
For as I reflect on my Christmas memories, I would say that the first ones that come to mind involve presents. In particular, I recall the Christmas in which there so many presents that my little boy brain could hardly take it all in. Of course, I since learned that my childhood home was half the size that I thought it was, so feel free to cut these memories down to size.
On that particular Christmas, I received this:
For as I reflect on my Christmas memories, I would say that the first ones that come to mind involve presents. In particular, I recall the Christmas in which there so many presents that my little boy brain could hardly take it all in. Of course, I since learned that my childhood home was half the size that I thought it was, so feel free to cut these memories down to size.
On that particular Christmas, I received this:
You see, I played with Star Wars figures back when "Episode IV" was the only episode. This was the late 1970s, before many of you were born. But I didn't know a toy like this even existed - a Millenium Falcon (Han Solo and Chewie's spacecraft). And to believe that I got it for Christmas - amazing!
And I think that amazement is why that particular Christmas was so striking to me. I somehow viewed our family as not having all that much money, not able to get the latest and the greatest stuff. I don't know why I thought this, exactly, but I did. And so this particular Christmas morning brings to mind feelings of happiness and surprise, not greed and entitlement.
I just want to also note that this particular, surprising Christmas was also one when our entire family was together - which at that time was 5 kids. This was before those older siblings of mine left home for distant galaxies. But then, eventually, new memories were created... from times when younger readers of this blog actually existed:
Okay, so now it's your turn. What are your favorite memories?
11 comments:
wow you look like my mother in that first photo...in a sibling kind of way, not in a "hey you look like a girl" kind of way.
My favorite christmas memory is when my mother gave me her guitar, not knowing that Dad had purchased mom a new guitar.
I'm pretty sure that was the last year...and one of the best.
Kenny, I posted the pictures but I may need you to call me again because one of them didn't turn out right.
I like Grace's story, sort of reminds me of my favorite Christmas story, O.Henry's short story "Gift of the Magi."
I think if the gift giving is excessive, then it does tend to detract from the season, so parents esp. need to watch it to keep kids from getting focused on the presents.
One of our traditions is that we always opened presents on Christmas Eve morning, so everyone could enjoy them for the day, get to bed early, and then have the focus ON Christmas on Christmas Day. It tends to be less rushed and more special that way.
Mmm...yes Grace, that was one of the best.
To that I have to say I don't really have a favorite memory. Just many good memories.
Interestingly enough... none of the first memories that spring to my mind involve presents. In fact, I remember rehearsing for the Christmas pageant we did each year in the Lutheran church. It was such a big deal to say that verse, but then after all my hard work they would stick me with a non-reader and he would mumble and make me sound bad! I alsoremember staying home one Christmas Eve.. just Jimmy and me because we had fevers. We jumped on the couches and had fun. As an adult my favorite memories are mostly the plays we wrote and practised and produced. Yeah. Good times. :-) Lots of good times with my brood... (kleenex anyone?)
I do have a number of memories that don't involve presents, by the way!
* Arriving in Crystal Falls and walking and talking through the lightly falling snow (the rest had already fallen and done its damage).
* Staying up till Midnight talking.
* Christmas in Reno
* Christmas in Seattle, where I experienced every form of weather and where a tree fell and killed "Kenneth Shlomo" -- was that aimed at me?
* Christmas Eve services
* Gift exchanges on Christmas Eve at Grandma's (woops, presents again)!
* Lots of gatherings that involved the whole family...
I, like Bethany, have many good memories of christmas. If I had to pick one it would be the year us kids(probably Karen, Joni and myself) bought Mom a dishwasher and we got Dad a snowblower. Karen and I hid the dishwasher in our tiny closet for about a week before christmas.They were both TOTALLY surprised, at least they acted like they were surprised.( I don't know how we kept a dishwasher in our closet without Mom knowing about it).
I also fondly remember the year I got my unicycle and practiced for weeks trying to ride it in the basement because there was snow outside.
Mom and Dad didn't have much money but they always sacrificed for us and always gave us what we asked for at christmas, except once...sorry Joni, you never did get a horse.
I also enjoyed doing the Christmas programs at church. We had to memorize bible verses and say them in groups.
As a child we enjoyed the presents and all the commercialized part of christmas. But... we also always knew the real meaning of christmas too.
Even though I was out of the loop, I *do* remember those Christmases! I remember the dishwasher and snowblower (I don't remember chipping in money for it, though) and I also remember the unicycle.
I also remember being told that I couldn't sing with the other kids at church/school because I didn't have a good voice. As I recall, the teacher tried me out, laughed, and told me to sit down.
I think I failed to mention caroling in my last comment. Which kinda complements (or contradicts) the above paragraph...
I always loved the Christmas Eve midnight/candlelight service. I may not have realized it then though (Ditto for the Easter morning sunrise service). While I was banished (or conned) to life in the basement, I remember waking to the sound of a ping-pong table thumping it's way down the steps. And on the "getting stuff" list, I got a whole bunch of models one year that I must have stacked 4 ft. high.
Such thoughtful gifts. The snowblower-so WE don't have to shovel. The dishwasher-so we don't have to do dishes. Finally the leaf sweeper so we don't have to rake (Father's Day I think).
Ok, I guess it's my turn.
I don't remember a specific Christmas... at my age they all blur together...
I do however, remember just how exciting it was to wake up on Christmas morning and the entire living room was full of gifts! I remember just being amazed by it all.
I remember Dad sitting in his favorite seat at the dining room table drinking his coffee and watching us open them up with Mom.
I remember that Mom and Dad bought Joni every kind of horse imaginable.. plastic, stuffed, riding etc.. all those to make up for the fact that she couldn't have a real horse.
I remember loving the candlelight service at church also.
-- moving on.. How did we hide a dishwasher? How did we get it in the house?? These are things I do not remember at all. I guess this is where videotape would have come in handy!
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