One of the earliest childhood memories I have is of Christmas is Christmas lights. Every year on Christmas Eve, Dad would load me and my two brothers into the family sedan and go out looking for Santa. We would drive up and down the wealthy blocks of Mission San Jose. I would be awestruck by the beautiful displays of Christmas light. It was magical.
Now this was in the days before cell phones and pagers. So the coordination between Mom and Dad was incredible. It never failed the moment we would pull into our driveway, Mom would come running out of the house, face flushed saying,” did you see him? Did you see him? Santa just took off from the back yard! Rudolph’s nose is especially bright tonight”. We would run through the house, and out the back door. And never get even a glance at him.
The disappointment faded as soon as we came back in the house and found the treasures that Santa had left under the Christmas tree. Eggnog would be poured and the bright and shiny paper would soon litter the floor. Oh the carnage of Christmas.
Some Christmas Eve’s were spent at my uncle’s house who always threw a fancy party with lots of food and Santa always made an appearance. Male members of the family took turns playing Santa. The year that the duty fell to my brother Ron, is the year the Santa myth was busted for me. Ron was 17 and I a mere child of 6. Sitting on Santa’s lap, my announcement that I recognized the pimples on Santa’s face as belonging to my brother was quickly followed by a panicked cover up…something about “sleigh rash”.
When I was nine, my oldest brother, Don, joined the Navy. He brought home from boot camp, two young men who very quickly became a part of our family. I still refer to Dutch and Jack as my “adapted” brothers-Not adopted, but rather they adapted to our family. Saying that I spent many of my “formative” years in a house full of sailors, probably explains a lot. I certainly can cuss like one and though I am not proud of it, I could drink like one in my younger days.
Now both Dutch and Jack were musicians. They taught me to play the guitar. Hunting for Santa was replaced on Christmas Eve with an acoustical evening in the Hill’s living room. Traditional Holiday tunes with a little American Pie thrown for good measure.
Mom would always try to get us all a gag gift. A little something to remind us that we were still children. These gag gifts always seemed to back fire. One year in particular, the back fire was literal. Mom got all five of us those rubber suction cup dart guns. As the gifts were opened, my brothers and I never looked at each other and not a word was spoken as all five dart guns were loaded, cocked and fired simultaneously at Mom.
As a young single adult I was not always able to make the trip home to California for Christmas. I Spent a few Christmas’ alone. And I spent a few Christmas’ embraced by the warmth of Families other than my own. I have my own found memories of Christmas with the Anderson’s. Like Dutch and Jack I adapted different families and learned new traditions.
Now all grown up and a family of my own, the traditions I hope to pass on are very rich. Because they are open to change and I think combine the best of a lot of worlds. Living in the Pacific Northwest our traditional Christmas Eve dinner is currently in a bucket of salt water in the garage. Brittney has been out to poke the live crabs a few times already today. We will bake sugar cookies and decorate them. We will eat the “Dungies” (crabs) and open gifts.
In the Morning, Santa will have filled the stockings and Brittney and I will just be lazy. Paula is a Nurse and has to visit patients who are shut in. Christmas Dinner will be shared with Don and his wife who live in town. Next year…Traditions will change a bit. We will travel to Palm Springs for Christmas with Paula’s family. That’s a tradition I embrace- soaking up the sun and lounging by gramma’s swimming pool.
So whereever you are this Holiday season, may you find a rich tradition you hope to keep. May you find peace and joy. Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the winter solstice you embrace.
Happy Holidays! (From Jeanette, Paula, Brittany and the dogs!!!!)
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