sageadvice
Long Time Member
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Lifes choices and the way things work out sometimes just don't work out for the best. Don't get me wrong, i live a full life now, living in Gods country among many wonderful people and am blessed to have more than my share of very good Friends.
But Christmas time always brings me back to my childhood when the family would gather at my Parents or one of the many Aunts or Uncles to celebrate the birth of Christ our Lord, Christmas. It didn't matter who's house we all went to, it was never big enough to hold all the people. It didn't matter if it were a branding or a Birthday, when our family got together, seemed there were always lots of non-relatives that were included in the festivities. Though they were not blood, they were "family", many having no major surviving relatives of their own so they adopted ours.
What a Merry time this was. There were drinks for the adults and i always wondered and watched my Mom and Dad curiously greet with so many hugs and kisses, those that they might hadn't seen for only days, certainly within weeks. And my Grandparents, the King and Queen with their delegation at hand, extremely happy with all the good tidings and feeling so content and blessed even though life on the farm/ranch might have gone a bit better for one reason or another during that particular year. Us Grand kids had lots to catch up on, lots of snacks, and lots of pent up energy. We didn't go for all that kissing stuff... especially my Grandmother's sisters as i always thought they smelled kinda funny.
Between trips to the chip and dip bowls, we'd talk of Santa. I remember the days when much importance was placed on just when he might find time to find and deliver to our location. My Auntie Carol always seemed to be on top of things in this department and us kids would patiently wait for his arrival. Without fail Santa would show with howls from the adults and screams of delight from us kids. As each year went by, the game was to try and figure just who was behind that big white fake beard? Was it neighbor Richard? Could it be My uncles friend Tom?
No matter really, but everyone took their turn on Santa's lap, and this too caught my attention as some of my Aunts again reveled in the duty and seemed to overly enjoy themselves. I was the oldest Grandson and there were like 30 grand kids so as i caught on, there was a responsibility for me to police, let the other younger grand-kids catch on, on their own in their own due time. I generally felt sorry for the youngest of us. There was always a few who could not visit and sit with Santa without crying.
In the later years as a young adult, i played Santa several years in a row myself and it was a pleasure i still enjoy occasionally to this day though those Family parties have long since gone down the road. The Grandparents, i have since found out, were the glue that held the family together. When they passed and left this earth to live with Jesus, the family kinda fell to pieces, never to be the same or to gather with such family passion. One thing was always the same, each and every year, no matter who hosted the Christmas party, we'd all leave early enough to make the drive in to St. Micheal's Church in town for Mid-nite Mass. We went to church a lot in those days long ago but not as often as we were supposed to. The older i got, the more demands on my time kept me away from the Church but i had no fear as i always knew that i'd made my peace, done my bit, i'd return soon enough. Christmas Eve though was different. Like moths to a strong light, we'd all devoutly flock to midnight mass, say our prayers, bless the Lord, and give our thanks.
Just some thoughts from an old fool, Bless You Jesus! Merry Christmas Everybody!!
Joey
But Christmas time always brings me back to my childhood when the family would gather at my Parents or one of the many Aunts or Uncles to celebrate the birth of Christ our Lord, Christmas. It didn't matter who's house we all went to, it was never big enough to hold all the people. It didn't matter if it were a branding or a Birthday, when our family got together, seemed there were always lots of non-relatives that were included in the festivities. Though they were not blood, they were "family", many having no major surviving relatives of their own so they adopted ours.
What a Merry time this was. There were drinks for the adults and i always wondered and watched my Mom and Dad curiously greet with so many hugs and kisses, those that they might hadn't seen for only days, certainly within weeks. And my Grandparents, the King and Queen with their delegation at hand, extremely happy with all the good tidings and feeling so content and blessed even though life on the farm/ranch might have gone a bit better for one reason or another during that particular year. Us Grand kids had lots to catch up on, lots of snacks, and lots of pent up energy. We didn't go for all that kissing stuff... especially my Grandmother's sisters as i always thought they smelled kinda funny.
Between trips to the chip and dip bowls, we'd talk of Santa. I remember the days when much importance was placed on just when he might find time to find and deliver to our location. My Auntie Carol always seemed to be on top of things in this department and us kids would patiently wait for his arrival. Without fail Santa would show with howls from the adults and screams of delight from us kids. As each year went by, the game was to try and figure just who was behind that big white fake beard? Was it neighbor Richard? Could it be My uncles friend Tom?
No matter really, but everyone took their turn on Santa's lap, and this too caught my attention as some of my Aunts again reveled in the duty and seemed to overly enjoy themselves. I was the oldest Grandson and there were like 30 grand kids so as i caught on, there was a responsibility for me to police, let the other younger grand-kids catch on, on their own in their own due time. I generally felt sorry for the youngest of us. There was always a few who could not visit and sit with Santa without crying.
In the later years as a young adult, i played Santa several years in a row myself and it was a pleasure i still enjoy occasionally to this day though those Family parties have long since gone down the road. The Grandparents, i have since found out, were the glue that held the family together. When they passed and left this earth to live with Jesus, the family kinda fell to pieces, never to be the same or to gather with such family passion. One thing was always the same, each and every year, no matter who hosted the Christmas party, we'd all leave early enough to make the drive in to St. Micheal's Church in town for Mid-nite Mass. We went to church a lot in those days long ago but not as often as we were supposed to. The older i got, the more demands on my time kept me away from the Church but i had no fear as i always knew that i'd made my peace, done my bit, i'd return soon enough. Christmas Eve though was different. Like moths to a strong light, we'd all devoutly flock to midnight mass, say our prayers, bless the Lord, and give our thanks.
Just some thoughts from an old fool, Bless You Jesus! Merry Christmas Everybody!!
Joey
