Christmas Memories

~Remembering Christmas Eves from decades ago when we would gather at Grandma and Grandpa Loveless’s home on Madison Street in Ithaca to celebrate. I think I remember carols on the television - because they lived in the city they only received one channel, 12 out of Binghamton. I don’t remember any food as this was after Dinner. I do remember their tree, one of those shiny aluminum affairs and the rotating color wheel on the floor. I remember bubble candles at some point,too. We were allowed to bring one present from home to open and there was always the money cards for each child with a crisp five dollar bill from the grandparents. ~Our tree at home was always a real cut tree, usually a scotch pine from Agway. The bottom round of lights were the large C9s, multicolored. Upper branches held the small C7s, also multicolored. The ornaments were a mix of new plastic balls and old glass from Mom’s childhood. And tinsel, the real aluminum stuff, not plastic. Dinner was usually at our house, with family joining some years. Turkey and all the trimmings. My mother was the BEST cook. ~Once David and I relocated to Maine, our Christmases were often spent with brother Paul's family in Topsham. You never knew which members of Cookie's family would show up and it was always colorful. After my neice Kattie returned home the gatherings got noisier - she makes her bossy presence known wherever! We don't participate as often - it was too noisy and too crowded because of the hoarding that has taken over their house. This year Kattie hosted at her apartment just around the corner from Paul & Cookie's - sorry to say the hoarding has moved there now. David and I used to joke when my mother was still living there that going to visit her in her room was like going to a different house - one where you could see the baseboards and you didn't need to move 18 things off the couch to sit down. It must have been torture for her to live there at times. But, hopefully that will get resolved with the ongoing mold remediation as much of that stuff cannot go back in the house. Not sure what will happen to it. I have offered to help in the coming year but we'll see if that happens.