The morning is lovely with sun, finally, and a deep blue sky. It is warmish at 39° with no wind. The temperature will even hit the low 40’s. I’m staying home today as my errands can wait for another day. My to-do list has only one chore, vacuuming. I’m still working on my jigsaw puzzle. In the middle of the puzzle is a giant reddish door with a wreath. That is slowing me down, but I’m determined to finish it.

When I was a kid, I remember sitting by the tree looking through my presents again. Opening them on Christmas morning had been a bit frenzied so I took the time to check everything out. That’s when I’d find the surprise. My mother would remember hidden gifts she had forgotten. She would slip them under the tree behind our opened gifts. We’d find them and think we had missed them. Once I found a really old pair of ice skates with leather straps. One strap went over your toes while the other went across your ankles, no keys, nothing to tighten. The skates were from the 30’s. I wish I knew what happened to them.

Christmas dinner was turkey, a repeat of Thanksgiving. We’d eat around one o’clock as did just about everyone else I knew. After dinner, we’d go to my grandparents’ house. The house was filled will relatives, aunts, uncles and cousins, hundreds of cousins. My grandparents always had a present for each of us and a chocolate Santa. My father and the uncles were together watching TV. My mother and the aunts were in the kitchen. It was always that way. I remember it was dark when we left for home. I’d sometimes fall asleep and be surprised when the car stopped, and were home.

Christmas vacation was for a week. We’d play outside as often as we could. If you got a new sled, you wanted snow. New figure skates demanded ice. Dry streets were perfect to ride new bikes. On days when we were stuck inside we’d play the new games we got for Christmas. A new game was always front and center under the tree every Christmas. My all time favorite is still Sorry.

Last night I sat in the living room just looking at my tree. I thought how beautiful. How lovely with so many ornaments filled with memories.

I found a cross-stitch of Santa Claus my mother had sewn and given to me not quite finished. It was in a basket under the table. It needed to be stuffed and stitched close. I did that then put it on my tree. Every time I see it I think of my mother who gave us all Christmas.

Usually my day off is Wednesday, but because yesterday was Christmas, I decided to muse a bit then post my memories of Christmas. I then decided today would be my Wednesday so no Coffee today. We’ll talk tomorrow.

Take Care!

The morning is cloudy and cold. We still have a bit of snow on the ground, mostly on lawns, but calling it a white Christmas would be a stretch. The first thing I did when I came downstairs was to turn on the trees and room lights. The house looks festive and Christmassy. I have presents to open, and the dogs are getting a special treat, a large frosted dog biscuit with HoHoHo on the front. I haven’t told them yet. It’s still a surprise.

My favorite Christmas morning was when I was either 11 or 12. My brother and I were up early when it was still dark. Everyone else was asleep. We got dressed and walked to church, to the first mass of Christmas morning. That had nothing to do with devotion. We just wanted to get mass out of the way so we could go back and open our presents. On the walk, no cars were on the road. Some houses were lit. People were awake. In the stillness, we could hear our footsteps. The church was almost empty. It was barely lit. Some ladies were sitting in front of one of the side altars. None of them were together as they sat singly in the pews. We sat behind all of them. The priest came out by himself, no altar boy. The mass was still in Latin. We could barely hear the whispered voices of the ladies as they gave their responses. We also whispered so as not to call attention to us. The mass was quick, no sermon, so we were on the way home quickly, our obligation finished.

One mother knew just the right gifts to give us. I don’t remember ever being disappointed. I remember being surprised. Her stocking stuffers were fabled. When I was a kid, I knew what I’d always find, crayons and a coloring book, small games, new socks and chocolate candy, but there was always the unexpected. I’d take out one present at a time. When I was older, my mother wrapped all the stocking stuffers, and I still took out one present at a time.

I loved my presents from my sisters. I had so much fun opening them. My sisters have inherited my mother’s gift giving gene. One sister found an original Ding Dong School book. They both gave me cloth ornaments, Santa’s belt and Ben Franklin. I got a few old kitchen tools, and so much more. Both sisters gave me gift cards.

Today will be quiet. I have a special Christmas dinner for this afternoon and a couple of new books, one being the new Patricia Cornwell, and I still need to finish the jigsaw puzzle, but I am making progress. One of my friends gave me cookies and peppermint bark, and my sister gave me a box of chocolate and cinnamon lollipops from See’s Candies so I’m set for goodies. I foresee a wonderful day. May your day be filled with wonder, joy and love.

Merry Christmas, my friends.