The most wonderful time of the year
As I sit transfixed in front of my computer beads of sweat begin to seep through my santa hat as I machine gun the scurrying enemy soldiers before they can reach my stronghold. The stage successfully completed I reflect on how much I love the holidays.
I love the idea of good will toward men and joy to the world. The build up and anticipation of Christmas morning and my family sitting around in pj’s sipping coffee and watching each other open the carefully wrapped packages of almost exactly what was on our individual xmas lists.
I always seem to become a little bit meloncholy as I recall one Christmas where my older brother and I talked and laughed through the night while in our bunk beds searching for stations on our brand new 9 volt AM transistor radios. Oddly that’s my only concrete memory of Christmas from my childhood; all of my most vivid Christmas memories begin with the arrival of my children. I love the excitment in the air from Thanksgiving through New Years and In many ways i relish the start of what’s next.
On Christmas eve we gather for dinner at my mother in law’s and each get one small present to open. My baby boy serenades us on his guitar and we listen and sing and remember. Traditionally Christmas eve was also when my wife and I would sneak out of the house to gather the presents hidden at the in laws. Of course, that was when St. Nick was still alive in our house.
My children are mostly grown and still we gather around the tree. Some years we are blessed with the presence of a grandchild or two. That’s always special with the marvelous wonder of anticipation and overwhelming excitement of children. As I grow older and things change I think I’ll keep our gatherings around the tree. For me the lights and hopes that it all represents keeps me grounded in the love that makes my life worthwhile. Not much snow this year. The tree is lit but otherwise unadorned and I don’t think they’ll be too many surprises under the tree but mom is still cooking, the apple crisp smells divine and for another year we’ll gather, sing and love as a bunch.
Yes indeed the most wonderful time of the year.
