It's another full house this year. Everyone is invited and it
looks like most will come. Since everyone will bring the family
dog, doggie treats will be a major menu item again this year.
We have turkey Christmas eve and ham and goose for dinner
Christmas day. We serve the ham with a special cherry sauce
that has been served traditionally at family gatherings in our
family for fifty years or so. Christmas breakfast is ham, eggs,
and French toast with real maple syrup. I don't look forward
to gifts I just anticipate the food. It's a menu that's been set in
stone for the last 15 years. We all like it. Sorry I almost forgot
the deviled eggs and real dressing. I think most of my family
were born with a knife and fork in their hands.
Christmas eve we light a candle for those that are no longer with
us. In this small way they are present.
My family is rather religious, but on this day we pray at home.
Each in his own way with a true remembrance of why we celebrate
Christmas. This is the day that we celebrate the birth of Christ and
give thanks for the place of family in the church. We also pray that
the spirit of Christmas will continue. The nicest day of the year.
Christmas Eve we light the yule log. Actually it's a series of smaller
logs that we try to keep going until the day after Christmas. It wouldn't
be the same with out the wood fire. This year my son will be the
keeper of the fire. It's a nice tradition. There's nothing like sitting
in front of a wood fire with the family.
We pass a few small gifts out Christmas morning and spend most
of the day watching football, preparing food, and just talking. It's
our family day. The women socialize and prepare food and the men
watch football. At least we are out of their way. We tried helping
with the food one year and were permanently banned from the kitchen.
I try to steal away about 3 p.m. and tie a fly or two and sometimes I
send a greeting on e-mail or ICQ, but I generally like to spend the
hour or two by myself.
I usually look at world events on my computer and try to find some
evidence of peace on earth. This year I pray I may.
This is how we celebrate a special day in our lives. While each of
us will celebrate it differently let's at least together pray for peace
on earth and charity for all.
We wish everyone well and hope that the season finds all in good
health, and hope the spirit of the season will carry over into the
following year.
My family and I wish you and yours the best as we start the new
millennium. Maybe in this one we will have peace on earth.
May God bless you. ~ Old Rupe
|
