narratives

A Cozy Family Christmas

   It is December 18 as the family gathers by their front door, pulling on their shoes and zipping up their winter jackets. Dad is carrying a bag overflowing with neatly wrapped presents, while mom holds on to a homemade apple pie, still warm and freshly removed from the oven. Little brother and sister pull on their gloves and hats, their faces still red and wind burned from their morning of fun at their village’s popular sledding hill. 

   As the family walks out to their car, brother stops to catch snowflakes on his tongue before he slides into the back seat with his sister. They give each other a smile as they feel the anticipation and excitement of another trip to grandma’s house for their family Christmas party. 

   Dad cranks up the heat and finds a radio station playing Christmas music as he pulls out of the driveway.  Brother and sister look out the window and observe the nicely decorated homes in their neighborhood, while listening in on their parents’ conversation about their relatives: an uncle has started a new job, a cousin is now in college, an aunt plays the organ at her church.  Sister begins to count and announces that there will be 23 people at the family Christmas party this year.

    Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas plays softly on the radio as the kids look out the window and see the landscape begin to change. The space between homes increases. Telephone poles are replaced by large snow covered trees. The busy street has become a lightly traveled two lane country road. Dad adjusts the heat, makes a left turn, and glances out across acres of farmland, covered by an untouched blanket of freshly fallen snow that glistens in the moonlight. With that turn, the children know they are approaching Grandma’s house. 

    Within minutes, they are pulling into the large driveway, noticing a few cars with out-of-state license plates have already arrived. Grandma’s large farm house is beautifully decorated with green garland and white lights outlining the trim of the home, while electric “candles” illuminate every window. The kids eagerly jump out of the car, and look out at grandma’s property.  Two horses stand near the barn in the moonlight. A dog barks in the distance and echoes across the open field. As the family approaches the house, a couple cousins look out through the window and wave.

    As they step onto the front porch, the big front door swings open, and Grandma and Grandpa appear with huge smiles on their faces and a welcome hug for all. As the family steps into the spacious living room, little ones run up, sliding across the hardwood floor in their socks, and hug the legs of their cousins.  A fire crackles in the fireplace as Dad kneels next to a robust eight foot Christmas tree and adds presents to the pile of gifts. He stands up and looks around. He has always loved this room, with the loft ceilings and high arched doorways, and molded trim around the windows. Sister sits in one of the many comfortable couches in the room and pets the cat that sits contently on the arm of the couch. 

   Mom has made her way down the hallway, past many bedrooms, and into the kitchen, where the smell of roasting ham fills the room. She finds her sister slicing a pumpkin pie and her sister-in-law preparing vegetables, but they stop to give a long awaited greeting and quickly begin to share updates on what has happened in the past year with each of their families.

   Brother has climbed the stairs to join his cousins in the roomy upper level of the home, which contains two bedrooms, a bathroom and an open common area with many comfortable chairs and a table.  After talking about the sports teams they cheer for, the cousins begin to do something they look forward to each year… finding the notes that they have hidden in the house the previous year. 

   The doorbell rings and sister jumps off the couch to answer the door and see who has arrived next to the party.  She is excited to see this family, who has a cousin her age and her favorite uncle, who is quite a jokester and is always the life of the party. More smiles and greetings and hugs are exchanged, while more presents are placed under the tree. Sister walks with her cousin to the basement, where they head to a bedroom they had always stayed in when they were younger and slept overnight at Grandma’s house.  The girls quickly get caught up as they laugh and exchange stories of their past year. Just outside the bedroom, you can hear the crack of billiard balls as a few men play  a game of pool while sipping hot cocoa. 

    Back up in the kitchen, a few aunts continue to work on preparing dinner while three girls play a board game at a small nearby table. Then the stairway leading upstairs begins to tremble as four boys rumble their way down the steps and head for the back door, where they pull on their jackets and gloves. They step out into the cold air and walk towards an open field of untouched snow.  Two of the boys begin to roll a ball of snow which will become the bottom of a snowman. Two other boys have found a patch of ice to slide on. It is a calm, quiet night. Large snowflakes are falling and the only sounds to be heard are the soft voices of the youngsters, muffled by the snow, the neighing of the nearby horses, and the faint sound of church bells in the distance, ringing out a familiar hymn.

    Just as the boys hoist the third ball of snow in place on their snowman, they hear Grandma’s voice call out into the night, announcing that dinner is ready to be served. Within minutes, everyone is standing in the kitchen. All faces are smiling, feeling blessed to be together again at Christmas.  Heads bow as Grandpa says a prayer, thanking God for the gift of family and the blessings of the past year. All say Amen, and then instructions are given for dinner.  Families gather around two large tables, one in the kitchen and another in the dining room, each table adorned with Christmas napkins, lit candles, and Grandma’s finest China.

    Large plates of ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and rolls are passed around the table.  The conversation is light hearted and many laughs are shared. As the meal comes to an end, the doorbell rings. Since all family members are present, they all look at each other and wonder who could be at the door. Then they hear the faint sound of singing, and all rush to open the front door to enjoy the group of carolers out on the porch.  A group of six adults and five children, bundled up in hats, scarves, and mittens, sings Away in a Manger while 23 people silently look on and listen in appreciation.  The carolers invite them to join in Silent Night, and soon the German carol echoes through the whole house and out into the night.

     After clearing the tables and packing up leftover food, the family gathers in the living room. An uncle is adding logs to the fireplace while the dog looks on, resting comfortably on an area rug.  Colorful Christmas cards are on display across the mantle, and just above hangs a three foot wreath, complete with red bows and pinecones. The men are talking about their travels and the children chat about the snow forts they’ve made and games they’ve played in the snow with the neighborhood kids.  There is little talk about work or school.  

     A couple cousins come in from the outside, just having checked on the horses. It is now time for the grandkids to open the gifts they’ve received from Grandma and Grandpa. Each one has their turn. The uncles ooh and ahh over the gifts and each child gives Grandma and Grandpa a thank you hug. As the aroma of fresh pies, which are warming the oven, wafts through the room, the grandparents then have their turn opening presents as everyone looks on.  

    The pop of the pine wood in the fireplace and the Christmas music being played in the background create a soundtrack to the stories being told and togetherness being shared. Soon, the kids sitting on the floor are begging one of the uncles to favor them with a few of his famous impressions, followed by two other uncles performing a funny song from their childhood.  

    One of the aunts has brought a stack of old photographs from their childhood and from Christmases past. As pie and coffee are served, the photos are passed around, observations are made, stories are shared, jokes are told. Laughter fills the room, many aunts wipe away a tear, shed out of both laughter and emotion.  Without having to say it, everyone in the room knows this is a special time, one they will always remember fondly.

    As the fire dwindles, the conversation slows, and the youngest children nod off to sleep, everyone knows the time has come to say good-bye. People stand up, begin to gather their belongings, and find their coats. Well-wishes are shared, hugs are given, and the house begins to empty. Tired children slowly walk to their cars, the fresh snow crunching under their feet.  

    Brother and sister return to the cold back seat, holding their presents from Grandma and Grandpa. As they pull away, they look back at Grandma’s house with a wistful smile. The ride home is quiet, as each family member basks in the memories of the evening, knowing this brief moment in time is one they will cherish forever.

Published December 2020

 

 A Small Town Christmas

   Mom blows out the candles in the house as Dad pulls on his hat and scarf. Their son and daughter are already both waiting outside, eager to make the trip into town to enjoy their village’s celebration of the Christmas season. 

   The family walks down their driveway and turns onto their recently shoveled sidewalk. It is only a walk of two short blocks to the main square of their small town. As they make their way down the street they enjoy the views of their neighbor’s neatly decorated homes.  Large front porches with tall white pillars are adorned with a garland of green pine branches enveloped in white lights and topped with big red bows. The roofs are covered with a fresh blanket of snow while chimneys smoke and fill the air with the smell of burning oak and cedar in many a fireplace.

    Waves and greetings are exchanged with neighbors as they pass three children making a snowman in the front yard and two others taking turns pulling each other across the yards on a sled. They soon reach the end of the block and admire the small white church on the corner, its steeple pointing high into the sky while stained glass windows glow from the candles burning on the inside window sills.

    They make their way past the post office and library, the snow crunching under their boots, and puffs of their breath filling the chilly air. They turn the corner and have finally arrived at the main street of their town, alive with activity.  They stop and take it all in…the sights, the smells, the sounds.  The road is lined with street lights, each decorated with a large snow-dusted wreath. The sidewalks are brimming with people, sporting their winter jackets, hats and mittens. The street is filled with small shops, crowded together and glowing with Christmas lights and decorations.  Each shop’s unique hand-engraved sign is hanging above the entrance from an iron bar perpendicular to the brick facade of each building.

    There is a buzz of excitement in the air as the family begins to slowly amble down the street.  A small group of smiling children has just exited the candy store, holding a bag of homemade candy and chocolates.  The smell of melting chocolate fills the air as the family stops to join a small crowd that has gathered to hear the yuletide sounds of a brass quartet assembled under a streetlight.  Large flakes of snow drift down as the sounds of “Joy to the World” and “The First Noel” ring out into the cool night air.  A smattering of applause is given as the family continues their walk down the sidewalk, soon finding themselves next to a small booth where the local church is handing out free cups of hot cocoa.  Mom and dad and both kids gladly accept the warm beverage as they briefly stop to chat with others who are standing near the booth.  

    As the family moves on, they are hit by the smell of freshly baked bread and pastries, which could only mean one thing…they have arrived at their local family-owned bakery. The traffic of people in and out is brisk, as residents stop to enjoy not just a fresh pastry, but also a story and a joke from the family that has owned the bakery for more than three generations and is known to everyone in the town.

    The family is enticed, but decides to save their appetite for upcoming treats. As they reach the corner of the street, a group of children from the local school is singing Christmas carols. The boy and girl wave to familiar faces in the choir and stop to enjoy a rendition of “Silent Night”.  

    They cross to the next street, passing the barber shop and bowling alley, and decide to take a walk through the local drug store, enjoying the opportunity to warm up a bit.  Dad stops to talk to the owner, whom he knows from church, while mom and daughter check out the scented candles and various soaps and lotions. 

     Soon they head back out into the night, and walk toward the popcorn shop.  The store owners have set up shop outdoors and have popcorn heating over open flame in several large black iron kettles, which they stir frequently with long wooden paddles. The smell of fresh caramel corn wafts through the air as the kids stand in line to purchase their favorite.  The son walks away with a bag of kettle corn, daughter has chosen cheese popcorn, and dad and mom order a large bag of caramel corn, which seems to simply melt in their mouth as they waste no time digging in.  

    As the family continues their walk, exchanging smiles and greetings from people they pass, they have reached the end of the second block and the shops have begun to dwindle.  They decide to walk another block to the local park, the sounds of the choir, the brass quartet, and the excited crowd beginning to fade in the distance. They pass the town hall, its front lawn highlighted by a robust 20 foot Douglas Fir tree loaded with lights and large ornaments. 

   Soon the kids are excited to hear the clip clop of horse hooves approaching as they turn to see a Clydesdale pulling a small carriage, decked out in large red and green bows, and carrying a very contented family of four, snuggling under a thick blanket.  As they enter the park, they walk through a corridor of decorated Christmas trees and eventually reach the ice rink. Several moms and dads are holding the hand of a youngster, helping them to stay atop their skates as they slowly make their way around the rink. A group of boys at the far end have begun a makeshift game of hockey, using garbage cans as a goal.  Several youngsters chase each other in a game of tag.  The night is still, the lights illuminate the snow that continues to fall, and the air is filled with children’s voices and the continual taps and scrapes of steel blades on the hard ice.  Several parents stand on the edge of the rink with a thermos of hot tea or cocoa. 

    After a few more minutes of observing the peaceful scene, the family walks further into the park to the foot of the sledding hill. They watch as a man swiftly glides past them, sitting upright on a classic steel runner sled.  Halfway down the hill, a boy has fallen off his saucer sled, and is chasing it down the hill. At the top of the hill, a group of four youngsters is forming a train, each lying flat on a plastic sled while holding on to the feet of the person in front of them. A friendly onlooker agrees to give them a push and they begin their descent down the hill, picking up speed until the train turns sideways and they all begin to spin off their sled, the sound of laughter echoing into the snowy evening.  Numerous town folk are trudging their way up the side of the hill, to enjoy another trip down the hill. 

    Off in the distance a group of eight teens and preteens are playing a game of football in the snow, the boundaries marked off by a path they have made in the snow with their feet.  Just next to their game, four or five children are putting the finishing touches on a snow fort, complete with an entrance just large enough to squeeze their small bodies through.  

    Dad takes a look at his watch and realizes it is time to begin the trek home. There, he will light the fireplace, and the kids will snuggle around it in their pajamas as he reads the Christmas story in Luke 2, a treasured family tradition. As they begin the walk back through town, they all realize how much they love their small town and feel blessed to be living there. There is no better place to celebrate Christmas than here, surrounded by family and friends.

Published December 2020