I'm gonna do something a bit more heartfelt and more personal since I hold this holiday close to me and not just from the gifts. I'll be sharing a few memories and thoughts on not only this holiday. But of what it means to me in both the past and present.

What Christmas means to me it means the celebration of family and the end of the year and the new beginnings that come with the new year. Christmas was a big deal in my family. After Thanksgiving Christmas was in full swing at my house as a kid. Between the decorating and baking it was always busy. I can remember coming home to the smell of home made Chex Mix and cookies ready to be decorated. I used to decorate the cookies on the weekends or on snow days as far and few as they were. It was fun eating a couple cookies as well as the extra frosting. After my grandmother's passing my mother would do the baking with my help when I was around as well as my little sister. But as the time passed even further more traditions died off and soon it was just making Chex Mix and a Christmas tree which even then seems to have faded away.



The Chex mix usually went into a tub of this size. Some times multiple tubs.


The way the times were for everyone in the 90's it was easier to get a lot of toys as a kid due to the economy with things being much cheaper then they are in present day. Though growing up the pile got smaller and smaller until it usually was one big gift and a couple small gifts then turned to money. Even though that's part of growing up and interests changing as well as things can make it harder to get all those gifts. But it's always the thought that counts. The way the living room was setup in my childhood home was there was the main living room and a small room with a little step that held the family's electric organ and videos. When I was a kid on Christmas morning that small room would be filled with presents. I used to get a beanie baby each Christmas in my room while I was sleeping and once in a while a gift. However I have a few interesting stories to share. Short but still good memories to me.

The first one was when I was around four or five I was sick on Christmas. I was unwrapping some of my presents then I felt the urge to throw up and soon enough my head was in a trash can for a good five minutes or so. I pretty much spent the rest of the day drinking ginger ale and sleeping to the point where I had to open the rest of my presents the next day.

Fast forward to a few years later and I was at that age where I wanted to sneak down and get one present at least cause I was getting gutsy and thought I could get away with it (It was a Game Boy Color and Pokemon Yellow in this case) and after I opened it I get a knock on the door a few minutes later. It was my mom who wasn't too thrilled at my stunt. I had the Game Boy Color and Pokemon Yellow taken away for a week. Though the other presents were worth it (N64 and Pokemon SNAP!).

Though the big event was the family Christmas Party. Where all of my family came together and enjoyed time together each family has one. Uncles, Aunts, Cousins and grandparents come and visit and enjoy time together. As kids we'd be playing with our new toys and running around the house getting cookies and chex mix. While the adults chatted it up and soon enough I joined them as I got older.

Another tradition that I am fond of now though I had to just do it to get to what I really wanted was Christmas eve mass with grandparents followed by a gift from them. The only time I ever went to church. Though again got older and didn't feel like going. It's something I don't care to do myself personally. However the memories are worth it.

Looking at Christmas now the holiday feels more commercial then it already was at the time I was a kid. Yes even as a kid I knew when something was a bit too Hallmark for me to tolerate. Though as a kid all I cared about was the presents. But looking back and with all the things that have happened I wish that I cared about my family more then the gifts. Remembering all these memories and thinking about it I get both that warm fuzzy feeling of the holiday that puts a smile on my face as well as some personal regrets. However I still feel that Christmas really is a happy holiday. As an adult and looking at it as an adult the feeling is still there the lights all around the city and the houses to the smell of baked cookies and candy. Even though I don't celebrate it like I used to for the past couple years it's nice to look back and keep on a few traditions as well as making my own traditions. I still watch the Christmas Specials and the parade. The baking I plan to do when I can do it. Making a big tub of chex mix and possibly Buck eyes. As for new traditions those will come when I make them. Though for now I'm happy with what I have and what I got which are the friends I've known these past couple years and some of the family as well the memories that I hold close to me and keep a smile on my face. Hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy new year.

Live Life and Live Nostalgic and Merry Christmas everyone and have a Happy New Year.