Dear Reader Column 12-26-06

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Dear Reader,

A big part of the holidays is creating memories, but I never really thought much about it, until this year. I guess it's been on my mind because everyone is gone--Grandma, Grandpa, Mom and Dad--I'm an only child, so there's no one left but me. I know, it's kind of an exaggerated way of thinking, because I have a wonderful husband, grown children of my own and two grandkids. Nevertheless, that's the way I've been feeling.

The "way back when" part of my life is now a time gone by. But I still have memories, and the ones that I choose to remember warm my heart and make the holidays extra special for me.

When I was a kid, every year we would go to my Grandma and Grandpa Hale's house for Christmas. And every year Grandma's house would look the same. The living room would have Christmas cards strung up around the side window. The coffee table was filled with Christmas figurines and a gold candle-type mobile. Four miniature candles sat on the bottom and on the top were four angels that twirled around in a circle, when the candles were lit. The Christmas tree, decorated with bubbling lights, was in front of the big picture window. Poinsettias sat on the floor and end tables, and Grandma's huge Christmas cactus was on a wooden pedestal table next to the television. I don't know how she did it, but her Christmas cactus was always blooming by December 25th.

Someone older than me always seemed to be in charge of creating family memories. But now that everyone else is gone, suddenly I feel a lot of responsibility because the traditions won't continue, unless I make sure they do.

I know I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself and that's what my daughter-in-law told me a few days before Christmas when I was telling her that I was worried I might not be up to the task of keeping family traditions alive.

But she looked at me and smiled, "Suzanne, don't you think you've already been doing that? I'm coming to your house for Christmas dinner and I know exactly what the menu will be and I know how the table will be decorated, because you've made it a tradition."

What a lovely daughter-in-law. How did she know what I needed to hear?

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

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Comments

[Jean (in WI)]

Dear Suzanne: Maybe this is the year to write down all those wonderful family memories/recipes etc to keep them alive for the little ones to come.

[almotanappy]

dear suzan...there is an ocean seperating us..in addition to the predictable differnces between our countries and cultures..nevertheless..i felt your words and i read them to my mom(who dont know english)and i wasnt surprised that she cried..saying that she wanted to say that but she couldnt put it in words..dear suzan..thank you

[kay]

Where is that baby picture? I didn t see it should I look for it where else? Give me a hint Kay