As Christmas approaches I am reflecting on times past with my family and friends. It seems like so many years ago that we use to have about 25 or so family and friends over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The fun, the laughter, the gifts, the food, omg the food. We all must have gained 10 pounds in 2 days. As Italians we would make big feasts from soup to nuts. You start eating about 1 pm and you don't finish until 11pm on Christmas Day.
Christmas Eve was at 7:30pm to the wee hours, cause then we would all sit around playing cards, or us kids playing games or possibly fighting :). It seems I am just about the only one left in this family of that era, yes we have our own kids and grandchildren but its different and its not the same. Everyone is either living in another state or they are busy with their own lives. No more gatherings, sitting around talking and laughing.
So I now celebrate with a family from church since we became very good friends. They adopted us and we adopted them. We have mostly every holiday together and though we are much smaller about 13, we now share special times with them. This era or generation is so different from when I was growing up, you always spent the holidays with your family, and you never would be on an iPhone, laptop or whatever else these kids (and adults) have.
Today you sit down to eat and the kids are texting and ignoring the conversation. It is a sad generation not to know or share with the family. But on a brighter note, I love my friends and their kids as well as they love ours.
Barbara...thank you so much for sharing this..it reflects some of my own life. I too remember those celebrations on Christmas with extended family, neighbors and whomever else wanted to drop by for a drink or a nibble.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and all your family, adopted and otherwise..
Thank you so much Carolyn. There is more to the story but I many more years left to tell. Be blessed you and yours
DeleteBarbara
Thanks for sharing. It also reflects some of my life as well. I've learned that family means those who share their lives with me...and I with them. Merry Christmas and God bless.
ReplyDeleteThis was a lovely post. I have never had such gatherings. My father was an only child, and my mom was not close to her family. So it was always a tiny gathering, if there was one at all. And it continued into my adult life. I envy all of you who have large families and many friends to spend the holidays with. I hope you all had a great Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. Although small in numbers we always spent Christmas together with family members. It gets harder each year, but the memories just get sweeter because you know a time will come when it will never be the same. Merry Christmas and thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Wolfie. Such a lovely post. Thanks for sharing. This year we did not cook Christmas dinner, but my daughter and I went out to eat with my granddaughter, my grandson's girlfriend, and three great grand babies. We had to threaten the two girls with bodily harm to keep them off of their phones, while we eat. Things are not like the good old days that is for sure. Hope you have a great NEW YEAR.
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