Christmas when I was growing up was not always stellar or spectacular. My mom was famous for saying bah humbug and being in a terrible mood from just before Thanksgiving until well past Christmas. We weren't allowed to put our tree up until Christmas Eve. When we finally got the tree it was mostly me decorating it with a bit of help here and there from my brother who really wasn't enthused about the whole ordeal.
Christmas got better when I was a teenager because my maternal grandparents moved to Maine and across the street from where I grew up. They moved in with my great grandparents, Sophie and John, to help care for them and to get my grandfather, who had Alzheimer's, out of the city. My grandmother, Olga, was and still is one of the strongest women Ive ever known. Through all that was going on with caring for her aging parents and very sick husband she still had time to make Christmas wonderful for her family.
On Christmas day I would go across the street to her house to help set the table and hang out. Olga would be cooking and direct me as to what to do then shoo me off into the living room. My great grandmother would be sitting in her spot on the sofa next to the wood stove and she was always knitting. She made everyone in the family socks, mittens, gloves and sweaters. I would sit with her and sneak candy from the coffee table and she would tell me story's of when she was young girl in Russia and how she came to America.
Dinner time would come and we would all gather at the table and have a fantastic feast. Throughout dinner Sophie would continually say she couldn't hear those who were speaking to her, particularly those she wasn't fond of. After dinner she and I would retreat into the kitchen to wash and dry the dishes. If I spoke to her she would sush me so she could evesdrop on what was being said in the dining room! Selective hearing gotta love it!
Those are the best Christmas memories I have, and possibly the best memories of my childhood.
So, what's your favorite Christmas memory?
Loved reading your memories. Sophie sounds like such a character. :-) My favorite childhood Christmas memory was having Christmas morning at my maternal Grandma's house. They didn't have alot of money, so she mainly bought us alot of dimestore stuff. But our stockings were stuffed full, everyone was so enthusiastic and it seemed like such an abundance. I love Christmas! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a wonderful Christmas Julee! Sophie was a character ;)
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