Merry Christmas! - Musings on Christmas Eve.

[EspressoBuzz]

Musings on Christmas Eve.

I don't suppose any single Christmas memory defines Christmas for me although some are certainly more powerful and evocative. The expectation of all my cousins arriving for the day, anticipation of each aunt's specialty dish. The apparent chaos of the kitchen, back then filled with aunts to today just as likely aunts and uncles or just uncles! I am quiet sure that when I was a child I thought it was magic but as a teenager I recognized it as pure pandemonium, and from that delicious meals came forth. My cousin a chef knows the mysteries of the kitchen and while he would say it's hard work I would add it is also magical. Food was and is the centerpiece of an Italian Christmas, sure it doesn't have the weight it once did, the table isn't as large the meals perhaps less traditional and the waistline more cautiously watched but the table, yes the table, with all the voices the laughing the shouting and the tears of joy is what I miss most. Grandma would say that at the table with family and friends you don't grow old. I agree with a full heart but the struggle to keep us all at the table has become harder. My evolution at the table once of course I had moved on from the “kids” table was first careful observer, then occasional fact shouter, budding nut job, and with full nut job took my rightful place at the dinner table. I had long ago come the the realization that if you can't ID the wacko at the dinner table then you're it. With all our differences we came together at the table, broke bread, and enjoyed each others company. That perhaps is my best Christmas' memory.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[philoshop]

Thanks Espresso. We disagree on just about everything, but absolutely family is what Christmas is about. Best wishes to and yours.