December 26, 2006
Everything Changes
I was talkin' with Mama yesterday. Seems my nieces and nephew were a little disappointed in Christmas this year.
It's our fault really. Over the years, for one reason or another, we've spoiled them at Christmas. We'd kill ourselves to get them everything they wanted and an additional surprise on top of that.
We worked really hard to make Christmas extra special. In my family you decorate for the holidays. Seriously. We tried to make it a very FAMILY time. I've only missed 4 or 5 Christmas' at home in all the years.
Well, I guess the kids didn't realize that as you grow into adulthood, it's just not the same. Stuff costs more when you want to have nice things for your home. My oldest niece is getting ready to move into her first apartment so she wanted things for that. Well, you buy pots and pans, dishes, glasses and all that other stuff and there isn't much left over for clothes and purses. It's just the way it is.
Plus, with Mama being laid-up there wasn't any decorating done. In fact, the house is set up for her RIGHT NOW so it's even less Christmasy than you would expect.
I wasn't there. I never expected that they would miss me. But they did.
There was no baking done this year. THAT I can fix for next year. But this year? No candy or cookies. Just a ham dinner with a few boxes to open afterwards.
Sitting here with Cuz and her family we told some stories of Christmas past. Chirstmas eve presents and a big dinner. The excitment of Santa coming that night. The extended family gathering on Christmas afternoon. Tables and tables of food. Laughter and singing throughout Grandma's house. There was something so magical.
But as we grew and moved into our own lives it changed. Grandma just couldn't do those big meals anymore. Then, they had to go into the home. The holidays became more about our smaller circle. And some of the magic was gone.
Everything changes. And that kinda sucks. And I hate that this year was the year A realized that. It's just as tramatic in some ways as the year you discover the whole story of Santa Claus.
But, it's not all so bad. As things change theres the promise of new traditions. New magic. THAT is what is so special about this time of year. The secret of keeping life so full of hope. While you can never go back, what lies ahead could possibly be just as wonderful. You just have to believe.
Posted by Tammi at December 26, 2006 08:56 AM | TrackBackI had the worst case of empty nest syndrome this year! It started with The Bells of St. Mary's- my daughter-in-law in Georgia looks very much like Ingrid Bergman-then Son #2 and his wife just decided they were staying home, no explanation. So out of six kids, there was just eldest son and the granddaughter here.
Posted by: Raging Mom at December 26, 2006 12:49 PMWhen I was a kid, we used to get an orange in our stocking and I never understood why, until I later, when I was old enough to remember, my dad explained that when he was a kid, a fresh orange was a wonderful treat.
Today my pirates have that same confused look when the reach down and pull out an oragne from their stockings.
Posted by: Sgt Hook at December 26, 2006 01:37 PMI can relate Hook... for me it was a tangerine, or a clementine.
Tammi, I know what you mean about traditions past. The thing about it, the way I see it, is just because if you don't learn from history, it'll repeat itself, doesn't mean that just because you did learn from it, it can't.
I think it's a cyles deals... Mine was a bit more "hollow" then usual this year, but, I imagine in the next few years, the cycle will start back 'round where it was a few years ago when there were a bunch of young people, and some old ones too, that knew how it was really supposed to be at Christmas time.
Buyin' those pots and pans and necessities surely cuts into the candle budget don't it... ;)
The orange was always a part of my stocking -- and is to this day, along with the dime in the toe. My stocking was sort of bare this year, but the dog's is filled to bursting.
Things change, but new traditions be born. The good thing is that we can pick and choose what we carry forward and add in. The somewhat sad thing is that we can never go back, and that change does indeed come. As for me, I hope that what remains of my Mom's family drops something that they seem to be making into a tradition...
May we carry the best forward in the best and happiest way possible; and, send the joy forward to new generations.
Posted by: Laughing Wolf at December 26, 2006 07:04 PM