So much for keeping up with my posting, I never said I wasn't a procrastinator. Tomorrow is Halloween, which sets off my favorite time of the year. I love holidays. I love decorating, dressing up, and cooking. I love the snow, lights, hot cocoa, I even love the cleaning. Your Dad isn't really much into the holidays. He thinks they're too commercial and while he isn't a Scrooge, he certainly doesn't go as crazy as I do. Holidays in my house were always about getting everyone together. Even though every other day of the year may not be the most harmonious, I knew that the holidays would be great. Maybe I'm just older now and see things through a colored lens, but I hope that I live up to that for your holidays. Which brings me to lesson 8.
Holidays are about family. Sure there are religious implications, Christmas especially. However, I think everyone can agree that no matter what your religious belief is (and I hope we've figured out how to explain that to you by the time you read this,) that holidays should be about togetherness, no one should be alone on the holidays. Every year I cook and clean for Thanksgiving for all my side of the family, sometimes it's the only time we see each other during the year. For one weekend a year, we get together and eat, drink, tell stories, go out to have fun, and since you're birthday is so close to all the holidays celebrate your birthday. Holidays are about reminding yourself and the rest of your family and friends that you're thankful for each others company. That you appreciate them, and that no matter how far apart you live, you'll always be together. Sure, you'll get stuff, but when you're older you don't remember the stuff. Sure I remember the year I got my first stereo, or the year I got my waterbed and Mickey blanket, the year we got our first Nintendo, but what I really remember the most is everyone getting together. I remember how my grandmother's tree always looked. I remember putting decorations on the tree with your uncle. Don't get caught up in all the stuff. Enjoy it, be thankful for it, but remember it's people that make the holiday.
