“Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends.”
Merry Christmas, My Friends
No white Christmas here: it’s raining. I don’t mind though. It’s the day we celebrate, not the weather. My Christmas trees are lit and are bright with color. It took no time for the bubble lights to perk. I watched and waited. My friend and I met for Christmas breakfast, a tradition only three years old. It was at our usual Sunday spot, and this morning every booth was taken. The coffee was free, a Christmas gift from Tom and Nancy who own the diner. I bought bacon for Gracie.
Our gifts were always in the same place by the tree every Christmas. They were artfully displayed with a doll in the high chair, books front and center and games leaning so we could see them right away. We always got new games. The year of my brother’s bike had a different spin. The bike was in the kitchen, hidden so he’d be surprised. My father sent my brother for matches in he kitchen, and he got them without even seeing his bike. Finally my parents brought him to the kitchen and turned on the lights. I remember his bike had blinkers so he could signal his turns. My parents always acted surprised at what Santa had left.
In the afternoon, after Christmas dinner, we’d go to my grandparents’ house. My mother was one of eight children and all of them, but the two who still lived at home, brought their families there. Those two, an aunt and an uncle, were around my age, the aunt even younger than I. We hated leaving our presents at home, but we knew they’d be more when we got to East Boston to my grandparents’ house. Their tree was in the small room, and the room was filled with presents for all of us, for the grandchildren. My grandmother also had chocolates to hand out, Santas or reindeer. Spaghetti was always hot on the stove. It was one meal she could make enough of for all of us, the aunt, uncles and cousins.
We’d stay until early evening when my father would have us gather everything up, say goodbye and thank you to my grandparents then we’d grab our coats and head to the car. We always fell asleep on the way home from East Boston. Christmas was the most wonderful day.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: breakfast, Christmas, East Boston, friends, grandparents, Merry Christmas, Santa Claus
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December 25, 2012 at 11:43 am
And the snows came and we left the Chapel to a White Christmas. For Boxing Day we have been promised quite an adventure
Happy Christmas everybody, and wherever you are may your God be with you.
December 25, 2012 at 12:09 pm
My Dear Hedley,
Happy Christmas to all the my Dear Hedleys!!
December 25, 2012 at 11:50 am
merry christmas, best wishes to all the citizens of Kat’s peaceful planet. thank you for your gentle kindess, much needed in this world.
December 25, 2012 at 12:10 pm
greg,
Thank you!!
Merry Christmas and all the most wonderful hopes and joys for the new year!
December 25, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Good Yule my friend!
Warm with rain, later colder with snow and now we’re waiting for more snow that most likely will melt away the coming days 🙂
Christer.
December 25, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Thank you, Christer!
Rain here too but my sister in Colorado has a white Christmas. The snow started last night and left about 5 inches. As pretty as the snow is, I’ll take the rain.
Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2012 at 2:01 pm
Merry Christmas! – May Santa be with you.
December 25, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Birgit,
Frohe Weihnachten!
December 25, 2012 at 2:13 pm
I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas on this very rainy cold and blustery day in North Texas.
Here’s a great Christmas story about the other Bethlehem, and I don’t mean in Pennsylvania.
http://www.npr.org/2012/12/25/168010065/dig-finds-evidence-of-pre-jesus-bethlehem
December 25, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Make that Merry Christmas from a SNOWY North Texas. There was a possibility we’d get a “dusting,” and I’m sure it won’t last long, but right now it looks like a blizzard. Life amazes.
December 25, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Thanks, You prompted me to look out the window and Yes, it’s snowing! 🙂
December 25, 2012 at 4:35 pm
im6,
I am jealous of your white Christmas! New England should be white, not North Texas!!
December 25, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Bob,
That’s the first time I’ve ever heard of the other Bethlehem. It was an interesting article.
Merry Christmas, Bob, from a rainy Cape Cod.
December 25, 2012 at 2:52 pm
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf9cT2Y7RCw?feature=player_detailpage&w=640&h=360%5D
December 25, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Thanks, Morpfy
Not only did I like the song but I also liked the video!!
December 25, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Hi Kat,
Merry Christmas!
It was a white Christmas up here this morning. Sort of. We had a dusting of tiny snow balls. Pea snow, corn snow whatever it’s called. Some flakes were falling off and on all day but they amounted to nothing. It’s mostly melted now.
I spent the day with my brothers, niece and nephews. It was a good day. One nephew I haven’t seen in a very long time so it was great to see him.
Now I’m home again and contemplating hot chocolate with marshmallows or maybe tea and homemade baklava.
Enjoy Christmas night.
December 25, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Hi Caryn,
Merry Christmas from Cape Cod!
I spent the day with dear friends, just got home a few minutes ago. It was a wonderful Christmas!
I will soon head upstairs to get cozy and comfy and enjoy the Christmas evening!! I hope yours is perfectly cozy too!!!
December 26, 2012 at 9:55 am
Snow in North Texas but not on Cape Cod,
even the weather in Sweden is odd.
Dinner is eaten and families united,
Friends, dogs and cats and Donald Duck are invited.
Gifts are exchanged and a prince very happy,
now the tinsel is crumpled and the music gets sappy.
A blog with a Cheers and a recipe on occasion,
musical fruitcakes and greetings with passion.
Memories from Ghana and childhood included,
traditions, sports, politics and russian grannies intruded,
people are waving and singing and strumming,
and we are all glad that the Coffee keeps coming.
So what’s the conclusion of this Christmas rhyme:
Santa’s on eggnog and the spirit is fine.
December 26, 2012 at 10:11 am
Not only does she sing, but she writes poetry, too. That’s our Birgit!
December 26, 2012 at 11:05 am
im6,
You are so right!!!!! One talented person is our Birgit.
December 26, 2012 at 11:04 am
Author! Author!
This is just perfect, Birgit. I love all that you crammed into your rhyme. Such poetry!
This is one of the nicest gifts I’ve gotten!!!!
Many, many thanks!!
December 26, 2012 at 11:22 am
Maggie and I rode out in the car
Honey Baked Ham isn’t too far
I had the cash with which to pay
A nice fresh ham on Boxing Day
I vacuumed the house and put on the set
A day of Premier League is my best bet
The snows are coming, four to eight
Starting this afternoon and running late.
My Tottenham team go to Villa
On at 12.30 should be a thrilla
The music is off, the carols are done,
Won’t be playing Lennie of which I have none
December 26, 2012 at 11:28 am
And so a very worried Prince arrived
“What do you think Grandma and Pumpa got you for Christmas ?”
“Lego Batman Batcave, Pumpa, Santa didn’t get it for me”
“He can’t bring me everything Pumpa”
I didn’t make him wait. His eyes lit up and we will work on it today.
December 26, 2012 at 11:59 am
My Dear Hedley,
Who knew you had such poetic talent! That’s a fun poem and I noticed how well Tottenham fit in, and I chuckled at your poetic license: thrill!
The Prince knew that Grandma and Pumpa would never let him down.
Have a wonderful Boxing Day!!!
December 26, 2012 at 11:31 am
Not sure you’ll be flattered, MDH, but your poetry reminded me of this:
December 26, 2012 at 11:57 am
I sent you Madness, they sing Wings of a Dove
I am not watching a video that involves Mike Love
Your faves have been selling their discs on TV
HSN and QVC are not for me
The Beach Boys and Rod are finished and done
Covers and Christmas are lazy and no fun.
Go play your World Party and write a review
You’ve had it a while, your comments are due
December 26, 2012 at 12:01 pm
im6,
You certain got quite the response to your video!! I figured your first line is really a certainty!!
December 26, 2012 at 12:01 pm
MDH,
Another good one and this poem even has several barbs!!
December 26, 2012 at 12:13 pm
I really like that Beach Boys song and MDH’s poem really did remind me of it. Deal with it. 😉 (I got a barb-proof suit for Christmas). Still don’t like Madness.
December 26, 2012 at 12:30 pm
im6,
I wasn’t being critical or even one-sided. I like that Beach Boys song, but I also think Hedley’s poem to you was funny!
December 26, 2012 at 12:43 pm
I like the his poem as well (no one’s ever written me a poem before!), but I’m reminded of “sticks and stones may break my bones…” MDH and I are like battling siblings who never seem to get along or agree, but have great affection for each other. (It just happens he’s so wrong most of the time 😉 )
December 26, 2012 at 12:50 pm
im6,
Every now and then I think I should be sending both of you to your rooms!
December 26, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Four Nil at the villa, TOTTENHAM did win
Defoe and Bale (3) were banging them in
On a cold afternoon when here comes the snow
the boys from North London put on quite a show
(Stop being mean im6, I am rhyming)
December 26, 2012 at 2:46 pm
Wow! Another high scoring 90 minutes of excitement, and a close one at that 🙂 I can understand your thrill since very few soccer games can ‘bang’ in four goals without a shootout.
There actually is a place called Tottenham and I found it in Wikipedia, I thought it was part of Middle Earth 🙂
December 26, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Bob,
My sister and her family are huge soccer fans. My nephew played at Oregon State, a division 1 school, on a full scholarship. They watch “football” all the time. I have never been a fan, but those who are fans are fanatics.
December 26, 2012 at 5:16 pm
MDH,
Well done, Tottenham!!!!
December 26, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Thank you Kat and up to 4th we go. Next game is 7.45am on Saturday at Sunderland. Something for Gracie to enjoy.
The prince and my nephew are building Legos, I need to do some snow blowing and I want to get the Christmas decorations down !
December 26, 2012 at 5:49 pm
MDH,
I’ll take a few decorations down every day, a bin full starting this next weekend, but I’ll leave on the outside lights until Little Christmas. I always hate to take down the tree. I love its smell and the colors.