What's up, I'm writing this from my childhood bedroom in my small storybook hometown. It's Christmas eve and this year the holidays have just not been the same as normal, well nothing really seems to be normal anymore. I understand as we age and the people in our life come and go that it can cause major change in our plans but since 2020 it seems that sickness also always wants to play a role in holidays as well. In 2020 nobody gathered much due to that being the first real (known) year of covid, it involved masks which hid smiles, waves instead of hugs, and the feeling of distance was everywhere. 2021 and 2022 seemed to be filled with that same since of distance as well but it was almost normal at that point. We do what we can when we can. Well then 2023 hit and when fall came around so did the sickness this time it just seems worse again. While no I can't say that I have any hard facts to back this up, it just seems to be what his happening around me. So that leaves me with will things ever be normal again or is this our new reality and how the holidays used to be and old traditions just be a nostalgic memory of the past.
In the past Christmas was filled with so much joy, hope and happiness as a kid it was the best day ever. New toys and not being able to wait to get to your grandparents and tell them and all your cousins what all you got. Before 2020 we had family come from out of town and we would all get together multiple times throughout the holidays and catch up with each other. When Christmas morning came around we would have Christmas in the morning and then load up and make the drive to the family farm. This is a special place that is near and dear to our hearts and filled with generations of memories. If it was warm that year we would play kickball and just enjoy being outside but if it was cold we all would pile in the house. I can still smell the huge breakfast that we all enjoyed and feel the cool stairs as all of us small kids piled up and down them to eat and it wouldn't be Christmas at the farm without at least one spill. I can hear voices of those who have passed on and those whom I haven't seen in years. Even with that Christmas Day was still probably one of the most simple and peaceful days. Christmas Eve on the other hand was wild, fun and great but still wild most years grandparents for brunch, back home get food to go to other grandparents, unload the car there then back in the car for the Christmas Eve candle lit service which was always one of my absolute favorites. After the service we would go back to my grandparents and eat supper then open gifts. Those are the years and memories that I will cherish forever.
I hope to one day find the Christmas spirit of my childhood once again and create more lifelong memories with the people I love. Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas.
-TH