Christmas is almost here!

Christmas is almost here!  This time of the year brings back so many memories......
Hugh Christmas trees that came home on Thanksgiving weekend.  So tall they had to be carried in and out several times to get the right height.  Every piece of furniture had to moved around to make sure it could fit in front of the living room windows.  Hearing my mother's statement of "Well, Paul" several times on that evening. Watching my father getting more and more frustrated with the lights, figuring out which bulb had blown and him making sure the bubble lights were lined up correctly on the tree so we could see them.  Waiting for Santa Claus and making sure my father still thought I believed.  Then my parents going Christmas shopping, but they couldn't go too early because my father would have to give us at least one present before the big day.....well actually it would be a present to enjoy and something new to wear to the family Christmas party.

The food that was prepared in that old country kitchen....my father's ham, Aunt Matt's pecan pies, my mother's chocolate pies and lemon pies with meringe topping toasted a golden brown, the several kinds of dressing (ham and oyster)......But mostly everyone being together and being happy.  Just enjoying each other.....

Then the family Christmas party.....Grandma and Aunt Mildred's homebaked cookies, Uncle Don's ham, my father's baked beans, my mother's banana pudding, Aunt Geraldine's fruit cake, There again everyone just being together.  Every child knowing they were going home with presents.   Grandma's gently presence that brought everyone together.....Sometimes I miss her so much.