Another tradition involved trimming the Christmas tree. Each year, my family would add one new ornament for our tree. Sometimes we bought it during our travels. Sometimes my mom would make it. After she died, I acquired a lot of her handmade ornaments, and they now adorn my own tree.
My parents had their own tradition that started with their very first Christmas during the WWII years (due to lack of funds!). It's a tradition that stayed with them, throughout their entire married life (53 years). There was always a bounty of gifts for us kids. But they were very consistent in giving each other a single present...beautifully wrapped...and quietly shared. I think their last Christmas together, I was moved by their sharing the most. They managed to have a quiet moment, just the two of them, in the living room, amidst opened presents and bows and 'thank yous' excitedly flying from person to person.
Dad would buy mom a bottle of Chanel (or a teeny bottle of perfume, in their early years). Mom would make dad a button-up shirt with a well-pressed collar (but in her last years, it was a store-bought shirt). I love the way they made Christmas about being together, not about the material giving. I wrote the song, Two Little Gifts, about this Christmas story, and I would be honored for you to view the video and hear the heartwarming story in more detail.
We're having a simple Christmas over here. I learned how to do that from the masters. Wishing you all a beautiful upcoming holiday season. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Holidays...
until next blog post, peace and love to you...
dorothy
