My Dad

This post is a bit off topic but relevant to the holiday season.

This time of year makes me reminisce about past holidays and my Dad was certainly a big part of my holiday memories.

My Dad loved Christmas. He displayed a childlike excitement about presents, food and traditions that was unusual for men of his generation. Christmas was fairly simple in our little farmhouse in rural Kintyre. It was just the four of us, but it was always magical. My Mom would work for weeks at getting decorations, goodies, lepse and the Christmas eve dinner ready. My Dad was the present buyer and took this job very serious. He was also passionate about buying mixed nuts and Christmas hard candy. He really loved these delicacies and had very little restraint when these items were around. The morning of Christmas eve was busy with getting all chores done and we generally dressed up for Christmas eve supper and festivities. My Mom and I like having a short program of reading and songs before the opening of presents but my Dad, would generally rush this process along in order to get to the fun part. Presents were simple but very individualized and Dad was always very proud about this ability to give everyone something special. The whole experience was indulgent and exuberant, and I remember going to bed feeling happy and safe.

It is interesting how we hold on to these memories and growing older give us the ability to remember and cherish these moments. I think the biggest lesion I lesson from those Christmas Eve nights is that we don't need the extravagant or perfectionism to celebrate the joy of Christmas.

I hope your holiday is filled with wonderful memories and great peace.

17 Wednesdays.