Christmas Day

It's finally here. December 25th, 2007; Christmas Day. You know, as I think back to previous Christmas days, a flood of memories come back. It seems as if Christmas traditions are ever changing for my family. For Christmas Eve, we always went over to my grandma's house and had dinner and opened presents. Then of course on Christmas morning, we'd all wake up and open presents brought to us by Santa. Now Christmas Eve is our traditional night we go to Christmas mass. Once we got home, we'd open up presents and then next day we'd have Christmas dinner. Well, seeing as both my dad and I were asleep by 9:30 last night (we both were up early that morning for work), we didn't get a chance to open gifts and that will wait until later today. But my mom and I did attend Christmas mass at our familiar community church where I hadn't been in close to three years. Nothing about the church itself had changed; all the asthetics were just as I had remembered. But the biggest change were the people and how much everyone had gotten older. Three years does not seem like a long time, but when you've been away for that long, it can be a long time. I saw many familiar faces, saw a couple of old classmates, shook hands with people I knew, and took in the whole atmosphere of the Christmas season within that church. It really was worth visiting that old church again; and what better time than on Christmas Eve.

Probably my most favorite present I had ever received on Christmas was when I got my first video game system, which ended up being the original Nintendo console. I remember lifting the large box the Nintendo came in and began to rip off the wrapping paper and saw what was on the box. I was overjoyed and excited. I don't think I stopped playing Nintendo at all that first day as it was the coolest thing I had ever played. But I tell ya, that gift of all of the ones I had received when I was young was probably my favorite and it ranks up there as one of my personal favorite Christmas moments of all - and it helps that my dad video taped it, too! In fact, I just might watch all of our past Christmas moments on tape today. Why not make that one of our newest Christmas family traditions. I know there are some great Christmas moments to look back upon.

Christmas Eve at my grandma's was always a blast. We'd get there fairly early, and some years we even arrived after church - but not always. A few of my cousins and uncles would already be there - and although I was never that close with a lot of them, it was nice being together even if it was just that one time a year. We'd open up presents, enjoy a good Christmas meal that my grandma had cooked up, and just generally enjoy each other's company. It has been some years now since we've been over at my grandma's house on Christmas Eve. People have grown up and it has no longer become an important destination for the Christmas season. My grandma has also been in declining health for some time now and she can no longer do the things that she used to be able to. So now we just hold our own immediate family traditions. At least we have the memories of those previous Christmas Eve's and are able to enjoy Christmas in a new way.

You know, even though we grow up and Christmas may not seem like it did when we were kids. But the holiday still gives us this special feeling and makes us feel great about things. We may be occupied with work or other activities that may not allow us to enjoy the season as much anymore, but when it comes to Christmas day - then it's a different story. Most everyone in the world has the day off so everyone is able to be with family. We're able to open presents, enjoy a wonderful Christmas meal, watch Christmas programming on TV, and everyone is in good spirits - even if it's just for one day. It's unlike any other day of the year. And unless you're a Scrooge about the day, it really gives you a good feeling about things. Now tomorrow things will probably go back to normal, but at least for one day out of the year - this day is really special for us all.

To all of my blog readers - whether you're loyal and always log in to see if there's a new blog posting each and every day, or those that happen to stumble upon it, I wish each and everyone one of you a very merry Christmas! May you be able to spend it with the people you love and have a most enjoyable and joyous time.