Christmas sure has changed for me...

[Archae]

Back when I was a kid, on Christmas Eve, we'd go to church, (a little UCC church next to Lakeland College,) and see the Christmas pageant, the younger kids (under 14) would be in it.

Then we'd come home, and open the presents.

On Christmas Day, we'd travel about an hour's drive south, to my "Gramma," (my Mom's mother,) where a lot of the uncles, aunts and cousins would be there.

"Gramma" died in 1989.

Nowadays, we will be getting together on Saturday, minus my parents who have migrated to Florida for the winter. :-)

Otherwise, I'll be with my cats tonight and tomorrow. (sigh)

[MISSDem]

1. Count your blessings. Since my Mother and Daddy have both

died, my siblings and I don't even get together for Christmas at all. I think it is very dysfunctional but I guess it just means they just don't care to see each other. I and one other sister do not have children; the ones with children feel, I guess, that they are now spending the holiday with 'their family'. I think it is selfish.

[Skittles]

2. has anyone tried to get the ball rolling?

sometimes that is all it takes

[grasswire]

3. I always think of the first lines of this poem:

Backward turn backward, O time in your flight
Make me a child again, just for tonight.

From where I'm sitting I can see a corner of the big house that belonged to my grandparents, where we 17 cousins, 10 aunts and uncles, the grandparents and a great-grandfather gathered on Christmases. Nothing in my life has been as sweet as those days in the bosom of my family. It was an American classic. A New England grandmother, a war hero uncle minus one leg, cousins playing monopoly in the back room or playing the old windup Victrola that was banished to the basement, or hollering down the laundry chute.

I lived away for many years as an adult. My family grew apart during my absence. The older two generations have passed on. I rarely see my brother or sister, and some of the cousins get together once a year, even though we all live in the same city.

So I look out the window over at Grandmother's house, dark and quiet this Christmas Eve, with only two stranger-to-me adults living there now, and I can only remember those happy, happy times.

You're not alone.

[hippywife]

8. I'm so glad I can't see my grandparents house

from here. Lots of memories similar to yours. Big extended Italian family all gathered together there. Lots of noise that I would have a hard time with now, but, oh, lots and lots of laughter, never a moments enmity to be found. Always the laughter that comes to mind. Especially sitting next to my grandmother at the table, where we all stayed when the meal was done and the cleanup done, listening to her laugh. Damn, I miss her so much. I miss them all.

I couldn't bear to look out the window on a cold winter morning at that home now, also now with strangers in it.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[Inchworm]

4. Yup

This is the first Christmas I remember where I wasnt either depressed out of my mind or with family. I'm now sane with my dogs and I wonder. I dont know, I'm just complaining, but I almost like the depressed ones cause I wont remember it so easily.

I'm doing good in my head and I will rem the Christmas Eve of 2007 as pure torture. I guess that is just how it goes.

:hug:

[coffee_strong]

5. i dunno

it seems the best memories for most is when we were little kids. maybe it has something to do with innocence? i have my own family now..husband..kids..dogs..but my fondest memories of Christmas was when i was a child. I keep reminding myself i am now creating new memories for my kids. when they are out of the house, i will look back as thinking those were the best holiday memories.

[Bennyboy]

6. Me too.....

Kids are grown with lives of their own.
parents are crazy and are away.

Just another day....

[Submariner]

7. Thanks for the memories....