I've always loved Christmas. Ever since I was a child, I couldn't get enough of the lights, ornaments, Christmas Carols, Christmas cards in the mail as well as friends handing them out in school, and the good cheer that this time of year usually brings out in folks. Of course, gifts are fun, too, but that's not what Christmas is all about for me.
Seeing my Dad string up the Christmas lights outside was the highlight of the season. I would sit on the lawn some nights, and just look up at the lights, in awe. He used to smile, watching me some nights from the window, asking me when I was going to come in. Finally, he would ask me if I wanted to go for a ride and see all the lights around the neighborhood and on other streets in town. Of course, my answer was always yes! Those were the best times, just Dad and I, hot chocolate in a thermos, driving around town seeing all the different Christmas lights and displays. Sometimes, we would get out of the car and look at the displays up close outside of some churches and homes.
Then came the visits with Santa that was always something special- we went to a department store to visit Santa while having our picture taken with him. Afterwards, we would go out to dinner, do some shopping, and then go around (again) to different towns and see different homes all lit up. There was always a reason to go see Christmas lights, in my eyes!
Of course, the decorations back then were nothing even close to what we have today! I can just imagine how the little ones of today must feel, seeing a bunch of Santa's and sleighs on the lawns, Reindeers, globes with snowman, along with the lights. I don't think my poor father would have gotten me back in the car, if I had spotted a globe with a snowman out front on someone's lawn. I am buying one hopefully this year, and I am sure, knowing me, I'll sit out there one night or two and admire- surely, my Dad will be smiling from heaven, watching his 42 year old daughter still in love with the lights and sights of Christmas!
The one thing I do miss during the Christmas season, is having a real tree. Unfortunately, I found out years later that the reason why I was so sick towards the end of the Christmas season had to do with the fact that I am allergic to pine trees and the pollen on it. My mother-in-law, bless her heart, told me to try washing the tree before bringing it indoors to decorate. I tried that, but unfortunately, my resistance to pine trees is very low. It saddens me, as I love pine trees, and there's nothing like the scent and beauty of a real tree in your living room. We have two beautiful fake trees, but there just not the same, know what I mean?
Right now, all of my children are past that "awe" stage as far as Santa goes, I don't think my youngest believes in Santa anymore. :( To be honest, I miss those years very much. My youngest loves the lights as much as I do- she reminds me so much of myself as a little girl, her excitement with the lights. She, too, sits on the front lawn of our house, and looks at the lights when we first put them up. She's so funny, every night, she makes sure the lights are on for when Daddy comes home from work!
Back when all of our kids were small, we would take some hot chocolate along with a snack, and go out several times in the season to see all the different lights and decorations, and of course, they would visit Santa as well. The place we went to see Santa had a Reindeer carousal and a couple of other rides that the kids loved to go on- it was all outdoors. They no longer have this place, unfortunately- the last time they opened up was five years ago. :( My children, along with my husband and I, were bummed to hear that they were no longer doing the outdoor Christmas scene with Santa and rides, as there was a lot of memories there from past Christmas'. I can still see my oldest two kids, balling their eyes out, the first time they ever met Santa. My youngest loved him right away, and was never afraid of him like her older siblings. We have a lot of laughs about that.
We are putting up our lights on the outside next weekend. Hopefully, someone's darling little one will enjoy them as much as my children have enjoyed other folks (and ours, of course!), as well as this big old kid at the age of 42. :) I know my youngest daughter and I will sit outside on Saturday night, admiring the lights together, and I will think of my Dad and how he loved the lights and decorations as much as my daughter and I do. I just know, he will be smiling up in heaven, wondering if the two of us will ever come in from the cold. He must be proud to have one of his grandchildren share the love of Christmas that he once had when he was here with us. Merry Christmas, Daddy- I love and miss you!
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, filled with great cheer and lots of merriment!
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