When I was growing up, we had quite a few holiday traditions in our house. Most of them revolved around an 8-hour drive to visit with my grandparents over at least one holiday. I think we alternated between Thanksgiving and Xmas, but mostly went for Xmas, as we all were able to have more time off.

Driving through the snow, getting a tree from “over top the hill” (my grandparents lived on a 40-acre farm, with a lot of mixed-wood forest above the house), having a huge Xmas dinner with an endless group of relatives – that’s what I remember from our holiday trips of my childhood. I don’t remember much in the way of attending church until we moved there when I was in my mid-teens or so. Those traditions went away gradually; first when we actually moved in with our grandparents, then when my grandfather died, then when I moved away and wasn’t able to come home every year.

Right now we’re working out our own holiday traditions. There’s a tree, with ornaments that people have given us as gifts (and ones that we’ve given each other); a small handful of lights outside, and a wreath on the door; a visit with at least C (this year she came up here with M); holiday toonz (I’m a sucker for holiday music) and movies; shopping; food (we tend to make big meals for Xmas and New Year’s Eve, and Xmas and New Year’s Day) and booze. The booze is scaled back quite a bit from previous years. It’s not what one might call depression-friendly, and I really have to watch that now.

A couple of nights ago, we went out to troll our adjoining neighborhood for holiday light displays. Most were only slightly bigger than the one we have, but some were truly, um, impressive. I think I counted a dozen displays that had at least 1 inflatable lighted figure, at least three times that many that had the lighted wire deer, and three giant illuminated crucifixes in windows. I have no idea what that was about. We did pass the house of the “Good morning! We’d like to have every inflatable lighted thing you have, please” house, complete with the Mighty Penguin Army. I was wishing I had brought the camcorder for that one. There were a heartening number of Grinches in displays as well. I think we’ll be doing that again next year. It really was a lot of fun, and School Girl had a great time.

Today is Xmas Eve. Unlike last year, it’s cold and snowy outside. We have one more appointment this morning, but then we’ll be spending the rest of the day at home. Just the three of us, as a family. We all hope you have/have had a wonderful holiday so far with your family…including the ones that you choose for yourself.