Christmas Memories

Fragile Christmas ornaments wrapped so gently in tissue paper.

Unfolding and unwrapping them brings a flood of happy

memories.  

Christmas trees through the years.  Always big trees.  As big a 

tree that would fit in the house.  Little tiny fairy lights, sometimes in

multi colors, sometimes just white.  

Beautifully wrapped packages that my Mama spent hours and

hours designing.  Each one a work of art specially created for

it's recipient.  Packages so pretty that one almost hated to 

unwrap … well almost.

A fire aglow and egg nog and hot chocolate.  Fuzzy bathrobes

and well worn slippers that would probably be replaced by new

ones still under the tree.  

Daddy still taking pictures of the tree and all the packages

underneath.  We all had to keep our excitement at bay

while he finished this important yearly task.

Stockings were indeed hung on the mantel and always

filled with tiny surprises.  We all took turns laughing and

oohing about the contents.  I still have our family dog's

Christmas stocking that has been the stocking of every

dog I have owned since I was five years old.  A treasured

stocking that has been shared by Bonnie, Charlie, Martini,

Charlie II, Bitterman, Binkie and now Bentley.

Cheese fondue with toasty bread squares served

in front of the fire while we opened our presents.

The same Christmas dinner shared for years.  Roast

Beef, Yorkshire Pudding, Peas and little pearl onions,

Scalloped Potatoes.  

The phone call to out of town relatives.  Laughter.

If we were lucky enough to have snow, we would

take a walk outside that evening and marvel at it's

stillness to admire the Christmas lights shining from 

every house.

As I think back upon these treasured memories,

I am reminded not of the gifts so much as the 

time spent with those I have loved.  Those times were and

always will be priceless.

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley