Traditions

Of course this time of year always brings about gratitude. It is never a surprise that we are asking our family members, or chosen family, to go around the table and talk about what they are grateful for. In my family, we don’t do that.

Thanksgiving was the day that we all got together and gathered at my Grandmere’s house. My Grandmere ordered the KFC bucket of chicken to feed my mom, aunt, cousins, and siblings. My aunt usually made the mac and cheese and my mom made her rolls, from scratch. The kitchen was filled with laughter and joy. As we got older, liquor filled our glasses, and smiles lifted our hearts as we got to spend time with our family. 

The day after Thanksgiving, we would gather again at my Grandmere’s house. This time, it was to put up the Christmas Village. Grandmere would have all the boxes of figurines, homes, libraries, light poles, and fake snow ready for us all to make a wonderful Christmas scene. My cousins, sisters and I would have a blast putting the village up. First goes the white table runner, then the houses and city buildings. Then the people. Every year one or two of them ended up on top of a house or two. Then the frozen lake where the kids played hockey, built a snowman, or the Coca-Cola Cart guy stood. We were creative then. Our hands place people where our minds thought they would go. Then, finally the fake snow fluff. 

It was beautiful!!

Then we would make Monster Cookies. A delicious, chaotic bunch of oatmeal, peanut butter, and M&Ms placed on cookie trays in heaps and baked to utter perfection. 

If I didn’t make it down for Thanksgiving, the day after was never missed.  

With family scattered over the state, whether in college or living elsewhere, other obligations, no one to help Grandmere with setting up and taking down of the village this year, and I am sure, a host of other reasons, the one tradition that we have had since we were kids did not happen this year. It has me thinking, what is next for our tradition? 

My sister broached the idea of continuing to have it at Grandmere’s and maybe we, as the adults, help her set up and take down the village after Christmas. I wonder if we will update who continues on with the tradition and where it will be. 

My family will gather again during Christmas for the annual exchange of gifts, laughter, games, and cookie making. Another tradition we hold dear. Maybe then we will figure it out for next year. January will make 11 grandkids from my three younger sisters alone. It would be nice for all of them to have the same, if not similar, traditions that we grew up with. Hanging out with our cousins, laughing, playing games, and making cookies. Who doesn’t want those memories? 

Only time will tell.