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Christmas Excitement!!


I have said that Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's just plain fun. But, as far as holidays that make me happy, sentimental and reminiscent, it would be Christmas.

As a child, I can tell you that my favorite Christmas was when I was about 13 or 14 years old. It wasn't from any present I got, it was something even more special. My father had a drinking problem and it seems like every Christmas Eve he drank, drank to excess. My father wasn't a fun or funny drunk, he was depressing and maudlin and he wasn't fun to be around when he had been drinking. So, I usually didn't enjoy Christmas Eve very much. However, this one Christmas Eve, way back when, he didn't drink. We had a great time. We stayed up and watched one of the old Christmas Carol movies and then we watched Holiday Inn. Those two movies have become two of my very favorite Christmas movies ever. It really was a turning point in my understanding of what the holiday is truly about.

Now, it's not about getting presents for me. I really could care less if I ever got a present or presents at all. I love giving them. I love to watch as people open their presents. I love to find something that someone will enjoy or need. I may not get it right all the time, but, I try. When KayeLynn, my mom and I were going on a cruise a couple of years ago, I paid for some of her shore excursions for her Christmas. I went through and found pictures of all the different places we were going to go, the things we were going to do, and printed them. I pasted them all inside a large box - just so she would have something to open on Christmas Eve. It's the thing I love about Christmas, seeing something I have done make people so happy.

I'm not a religious person, but I am a spiritual and happy person. I care why we celebrate. I care about the meaning of love, family and togetherness that the holiday brings. What an awesome time of year!
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Comments

  1. NatalieDecember 20, 2010 at 10:16 PM

    I agree Colleenie. Watching the expression on their faces as they open a gift is my "little gift". When the little one's make that cute little "O" with their mouths & their eye's light up.....PRICELESS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Norman & Trynitee PeatDecember 21, 2010 at 3:21 PM

    I agree, I love to give gifts and watch people open them. I would much rather shop for others then myself all year long.

    ReplyDelete

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