Christmas Memories

Whenever the holiday season comes around, I jump for joy at the idea of Christmas lights, snow (without the ice) and the decorating the Christmas tree (my boyfriend finds this all very annoying.)

Though decorating the tree at the Gleason household usually turned into a fight between my brother, sister and I, on where certain ornaments should go, which in turn would eventually engulf my parents and then cause World War III to break out. I still look back fondly at those times of my brother and sister fighting with me and in turn all three of us arguing with my parents. Isn't it amazing how children can get along once mom and dad get involved.

One of my favorite memories is listening to my mother sing the Christmas songs that came on radio in the kitchen while she baked pumpkin pies or any other holiday dessert. I grew up listening to the country versions of all the Christmas songs. Over the years, I would shun country music to fit in with all of my friends because it just wasn't cool, but at Christmas time I would put my prejudices aside and join my mother singing those tunes in the kitchen. I now proudly proclaim that I listen to all types of music, country included.

Today while on my drive to work I heard Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors," all those memories of my childhood came rushing back to me.

You see, my parents are in the process of a divorce, though my siblings and I are old enough that we understand the circumstances of everything and we try not to pass the blame on them, we are still finding the holiday season difficult. We know that we will not have those close-knit family holidays any longer, and though we will still be spending time with both sides of the family it won't be the same. Its okay, it isn't our parents fault, these things happen.

So, life goes on and this year, my family will not be celebrating Christmas together, just like we didn't for Thanksgiving but it's going to be OK. One thing that I can guarantee, when I bake pumpkin pies in my kitchen and one day when I have my family, I will be singing those holiday songs that I learned by listening to my mother sing along to the radio and enjoying the time that I have with my loved ones.

No matter, what I will always have those memories from my childhood. And I know that it is important to look ahead to the future while not forgetting the past. I'm very blessed, I have a family that loves me and stands by me … even if we are not together.