My Christmas Story
December 12th, 2009
Christmas is such a magical time for me… because when I was a kid, it was truly magic. The air smelled different than any other time of the year… rich with Christmas tree sap, chimney smoke, and snow (yes, you can smell the snow just like the rain).
Back in the day there were no DVDs or VCRs, so when the Christmas specials like Rudolph or the Grinch came on, it was a big event. I remember my Mom dressing me in a new nighty and making some kind of special snacks and egg nog for the occasion. You couldn’t miss them, or it was a whole year till they were on again.
Every house and shop was decked out with lights… not those little lights we have now, but those big huge colored bulbs. And the snow – well my sister and I would go tobogganing till we went through all over mittens, and we had to move onto my dad’s thick socks. We didn’t come in until we were soaking wet with no more snow suits to change into.
Christmas Eve we would go to my Mamma & Pappa’s house after midnight mass and listen to the local radio station that was reporting Santa sightings across Canada… as soon as he was in our neck of the woods my parents would wisk us home and tuck us in and it was nothing short of magic.
I only remember a few Christmas presents… I know I always got everything my heart desired every year, but it wasn’t that part that is engraved in my heart… it’s magic of the season. The advent calendar… waiting for each day to open up a door. It was the stores that were decked out with the most amazing decorations. It was all the baking and trillions of Christmas cards that arrived in the mail. It was getting a new dress for the Christmas concert and how school days leading up the Christmas break wasn’t about math and reading… it was about rehearsing songs and lines of the play, making gifts for our parents, or learning how to build a snowman treat from marshmallows, a toothpick and some food coloring for drawing the details. Teachers felt like friends and family and everyone just got along.
Those were my favorite holiday memories as a kid.
And my favorite one being a parent? That’s easy. My oldest son was about 7 or 8 and had heard from the older kids that Santa was not real. He quickly informed his little brother and before I knew it, I had these little doubting boys. Well I couldn’t have that! It was a tough year… their dad had split and I was working hard just to pay the bills. We went without a lot of extras leading up to Christmas so that I could save and my oldest knew money was tight. Well I had saved enough to get them everything on their Christmas lists, just as my parents did for me. When they went downstairs and saw everything under the tree, Trevor cheerfully exclaimed “there IS a Santa… Mom could NEVER pay for all this”… and just like that their holiday spirit was restored, and Santa was the magic man again.
I love Christmas. My Mom is coming down this year, instead of us traveling up the Canada. I will miss not having snow, but I have convinced my Mom that we can forgoe the gifts this year, and use the money to toodle around and have fun, and eat glorious meals at Feast and the Waterfront Depot, and to hang out and enjoy scrumptious snacks at home while watching movies and playing games. Of course I’m shopping for my kids, but other than that – we all have what we want or need already… or at least what others can buy for us, lol. I want this Christmas to be about family, not material stuff… because those were my best memories.
Happy holidays to you all. I hope you give handmade this year – give your heart, your talent and your love. Sew something up, bake something divine, whatever your specialty is, and give of yourself… and I guarantee your 2010 will bestow good karma on you 
