My most memorable Christmas

 

Growing up in a household that was 1/2 Italian and 1/2 heinz 57 made for some fun holidays. My mother was the Italian part..The cooking would commence the start of Christmas week, and last until the Eve. Food would abound in our house. Then there is the dishes all the relatives would bring in.

Christmas Eve dinner was purely Italian. Every pasta, sauce and dessert imaginable. It was the one time of year my parents let us kids sip red wine- a big thrill! 
The one Christmas I remember most was when I was 7. My grandmother had been diagnosed with Lung cancer and  was  given 3-6 months to live. I knew this would be my last with her.
She sat in a chair and I next to her on the floor while we opened presents. I held her hand and wished it would last forever. I burned everything from that Christmas in to my mind, never to forget it.

That next March she passed. After that, Mom stopped the Italian food and Christmas was never the same.

 So, Once Senior and I were married. I started the tradition up again with my own little family. I have cooked meatballs, fresh bread, boiled spaghetti noodles, and my special sauce. The house smells heavenly. Christmas Eve is a magical time. I love seeing the excitement on the little faces of our boys, and I am so thankful for the things we have and my family to celebrate this Christmas with.

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas !

-JUGM

Christmas's Past...

As Christmas approaches, memories of Christmas pasts always enters my mind I am asking my blogger readers to feel free to share a special Christmas memory that they may have.


 I was was Christmas 1977, and I was 7. My maternal grandmother "Nana"  had just been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. She was only given 3-6 months to live.
She and my grand dad came over on Christmas Eve, My mother had gone overboard cooking our Traditional Italian dinner: Rigatoni's, Spaghetti, bread, and lots of Italian desserts. It was also the one time of year my siblings and I were allowed to drink wine. As sad as the adults were that year, they all tried very hard to keep it happy and jovial.

Christmas came the next day, and so had Santa.. My Aunt brought her and my grand dad back over. She was sitting in a chair and I next to her on the floor, I laid my head on the arm of the chair, she started rubbing my head, and talking to me in Italian:
"Buon Natale piccola, ti amo e sarà sempre con te"
 (Merry Christmas Little one, I love you and will always be with you)

Three months later in March she passed away peacefully. That Christmas was so very
long ago, but after all these years I remember it so clearly. She is still with me, I see her in my children, and In some of their mannerisms or facial expressions. They look at her picture and I tell them stories of her. And she is there every year on Christmas eve, when I and my own family sit around the table having our Italian celebration...


-JUGM