Enjoy the Holidays

As the 25th of December approaches, I cannot help but remember my childhood.

Yes, my family celebrated Christmas. We would all gather at Grandma and Grandpa's house with all my brothers and sisters and my mom too, and we would get to open presents together. Then, we would have the big Christmas dinner with all the fixens: Turkey, Stuffing, Corn, Cranberry Sauce, and Scalloped Potatoes (I still hate those so much). I loved those memories.

Now, I'm all grown up. My grandparents have passed on, my brothers and sisters don't live with me anymore, and my mom lives by herself with her new husband.

I wouldn't mind any of that... except we don't celebrate Christmas anymore.

We don't gather together anymore. There is just so much tension in the family now a days that no one wants to be together (for a multitude of reasons).

I miss that time. I miss being together.

Yes, I got presents. I loved that part. Who didn't? But you know what? We were TOGETHER. We shared our lives together. And, I feel giving presents is just part of the holiday spirit.

You know what else is too? The tree. My roommate put up a tree in our apartment. You know what? I missed having one. I missed how it makes you feel about the holidays, and the memories it brings out. I will have a tree wherever I live from now on.

I remember the huge tree we had at our Christmas's. My family doesn't do it anymore.

"We don't have any little kids anymore. What's the point?"

The point is being together. It isn't about the gifts, it's about family. Yes, the gifts are still gonna come from me. If you don't want to give in return...fine. But, I'm not letting that stop what I love about this holiday. Family and friends and being together.