Childhood Holiday Memories

I love Christmas! It is my favorite time of year. I love the excitement, the lights, Santa....everything! I attribute that love to my childhood. Lately, I have been longing for that innocence of childhood, the belief in Santa, celebrating with family. I want that old fashioned holiday!! I owe my parents, my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents a great deal of thanks for instilling in me a love of being together and enjoying each others company; of laughter, warmth and family.

I loved traveling to my aunt and uncle's home. I remember movies, games, food, fun. I remember wondering if Santa would know we were not at home and my parents assuring me he would know where we were. And sure enough, Christmas morning, I woke up ran upstairs to find he had most certainly come to my aunt and uncle's home! I remember much laughter and many Polish jokes. Back then, you could tell Polish jokes and my aunt is very Polish! And the food... there was always alot of good food! I loved to see what everyone was bringing. I remember one year all us kids sleeping on the floor downstairs. (that could have been at Easter! Old age...memories can get jumbled!) I remember the years we went to the farm house. i wanted to live there when I grew up. I LOVED that old house. I loved the memories, stories, that came with it. I loved that sometimes, because there were so many of us, we had to use the outhouse, or we couldn't flush the toilet after every use! I remember it was so warm and cozy there. I remember sitting around the table peeling potatoes, or making fruit salad. I remember my grandfather, father and uncles going hunting and running to the basement when they got back to see who got a deer. Oh, my dad got one once!! We were all surprised!! I remember sharing a room, and bed, with my cousin. We were like sisters! It was just like when our moms lived there and had to share a room... and sometimes a bed! I remember the snow, walking out to the woods, down to the pond, the beautiful scenery, the deer. Most of all, I remember my family and how much I loved them; how special and lucky I was to have such a great family. I remember how happy my grandma was. She was always happy when her family was around. I miss her! I miss my Uncle Bob who once told my cousin Karen we were having her goose for dinner! Or maybe it was a duck! We weren't really! I miss those family gatherings. Unfortunately, time does not stand still. Life must go on. We grow up, move away and start new traditions. I hope my children can enjoy this time as much as I did. So, thank you family for helping make such wonderful, wonderful memories for me to carry in my heart for the rest of my life. I love you all!!