Christmas Musings...

 

Back then... Tourtiere pie scent engulfing all like incense rising from the burn...fish chowdah resting on the stove...nuts cracked open leaving their dredges behind... Mom's chocolate walnut fudge cut into mouth size cubes ...a sleigh of decorated cookies adorned in silver sprinkles...the fir tree dressed in shimmering tinsel topped with an aging yellowish angel...candles lit in windows framed by a frosty glow...opening a gift before bed only to find it was new pajamas to sleep in so that we would all look great for those morning  pictures...hanging hollow stockings each bearing your names... Dad singing carols in French...struggling at bedtime to sleep and giving way to maniacal laughter with siblings...parents pleading unsuccessfully to quiet the antics with "If you make too much noise Santa won't stop here" or some other pointless statement. 

Young adulthood recollections of coming "home" from your little apartment excited to tell how life is going or not...arriving from college thankful to be able to sleep, eat and just be "home" with a huge bag of dirty laundry in tow...maybe bringing "home" a special someone for all to meet...hanging in the kitchen  able to enjoy adult beverages...Dad roasting venison and pork...wanting to help cook, share and clean up so mom and dad could sit and watch the grands...the music and pageantry of going to midnight Mass...

Making the difficult decision to stay "home" with your children or pack up and travel to Grammy and Papa's house or have them come to yours...car filled with blankets spread and tucked over hidden Santa gifts...the three hour drive that turned into eight because of that memorable snowstorm and no cell phones nor text to let all know…the reward of hugs and kisses from the worried Grands, Aunts, Uncles, in-laws and outlaws...those warm, wonderful traditional smells upon entering "home"...cinnamon rolls bigger than a snowball...potato chips flooded with clam dip...shrimp cocktail swimming in the fresh squeezed lemon mist waiting for a dab of Dad's special sauce...your children get to open a gift before bed to find it was new pajamas to sleep in so that all would look great for those morning pictures, great family traditions...the very late night attempt to unpuzzle toys with the dreaded "Assembly Required" to place around the tree... being tugged out of bed well before dawn by shouts of “Santa came!”

Now...fading scents and soft recall of Christmas's past...aromas of busy kitchens float through our minds...families spread around the globe...grandchildren grown with lives of their own...postcards now framed with family photos...maybe a phone call but a text will do...thoughts filled of loved ones gone but always still the have the HEART SHADOW...one decoration left is that aging wreath of corks...it seems like it was all just a blink, a smidge in time...not lonely...not sad...just thankful for a heart filled with the gifts of Christmases past. 

Cheers to your Christmas Musings!