Christmas Past

This time of year always brings forth remembrances of childhood and teenage Christmases for me.

The past meets me and I am drawn backwards, like a dream heavy time machine.

The smell of pine and the crisp air are a heady perfume.

Candles and lights warm and illuminate the path. pleasantly luring us to a place never forgotten.

There is a pastiche of images tumbling around and out right now.

The trees decorated with old and new ornaments, as each year we would add something meaningful to the family. Cherished artwork from us three kids adorned those huge pines.

The smell of pine mixed with Mom's cooking and interestingly, Dad's cigars, like a familial incense.

Presents, eating and playing in the snow replete with snow forts and not just snowball fights, but 'snow wars', with my brother's and my stockpiled 'armament'.

Warming up with cocoa and lots of whipped cream. Lots, -s-. Together with cookies and pies, we were fortified for another round.

Oranges, so sweet and juicy, started the day off and that smell stayed and added to the magic.

As we got older and we moved, the celebration included, for me, time spent with one of my best friends from high school.

This was a godsend, for it gave me some respite from taking care of my Dad, who had gotten ill. Time away with friends, so that I might be stronger.

Somewhere, there are home movies my friend's Mom took of us guys, his cousin and a mutual friend along with my friend's sister mugging for the camera.

The fun we had! Goofing and laughing! Christmas break! No schoolwork! And the 23rd was my friends birthday.

He managed to get presents for both holidays. The boy never suffered lol.

They had a present wrapping assembly line in the basement. It was a wonder of family technology. We each shared the work and were rewarded with a Christmas drink after our labors.

I don't like to live in the past. Memories, however, are precious treasure. They are the basis for heritage and history.

In spite of the sadness of my Dad's illness and deterioration, my family and my friend's family had a great deal of good times. Shared grief gave way to celebration.

One of my Dad's last Christmases, we got a bottle of Dom Perignon. This was spurred by me, the consummate James Bond fan -s-.

The task of popping the cork was given to me.

Everyone sat in the living room, witnessing the ceremony.

Not having had a great deal of experience, I struggled with said cork.

As I moved around, I managed to position the bottle pointed in Dad's direction on the couch.

He was wearing a red stocking cap, as the illness made him chill.

As I popped the cork, it shot toward him, making a beeline for that cap.

I never saw Dad move, sick or well, so fast lol. And he never lost the cap!

My Great Grandma, Rose Belle, came over that year.

She had a glass of bubbly and smoked a few cigarettes, at the age of 93 (She lived to be almost 103).

I had gone to my room in the afternoon to lift weights (A habit I retain).

She asked where I had gone and Mom told her I was exercising.

She then said, 'I can exercise still', and touched her toes a few times! THAT I wish I'd gotten on film lol.

I will never forget it.

I will remember it all and have regaled the kids with many a tale, as I hope they will do for their own someday. For that matter, I hope I can tell tales to my future grandkids myself, if given the time.

These thoughts carry me through this cold wet season.

And this simple humanity is a very profound reason why I am committed to Freedom.

How can we have a Republic without our humanity?