I love decorating for Christmas and putting up the Christmas lights. I'm usually in charge of the outside decorations. Even with the cold numbing my fingers, I still like being outside and stringing up the lights and any other ideas that pop into my head.
No, I'm not competing with the neighbors and I certainly can't do as much as I used to but I do what I can. I just like doing it for me and my wife. I do it for us.
In my younger days I would scale the roof and put lights on top of the house and anything else I could put up there. I really love the lights whether they are white or multi-color. I'm never one to do the same thing every year and usually there is an idea in my head. Unfortunately, my budget isn't enough to fund my ideas. I still do what I can.
I almost gave it up one Christmas when someone stole a large portion of our decorations. That gave me quite a punch in the gut. I couldn't believe someone would do that.
Another one of my favorite things is to drive around looking at lights in different neighborhoods and any special light displays. We usually go through Starbucks and get some hot chocolate, put on the Christmas music and find the best decorated neighborhoods.
Growing up as a preacher's kid, I had many appearances in the annual Christmas play. I was never any of the main characters, mostly a shepherd or wise man. Some years the plays were very well done while others - well - the play still happened. In the early years, we would all get a small bag of fruit after the play. Once I even wrote and directed a play. In later years, I did the music, sound and any special effects for the children's play. Throughout my years in the church I was always involved with the play in some way.
Family gatherings have been a mixed bag. Never the same every year. I kinda like it that way. I know of many families that HAVE to do the same thing EVERY year. That becomes a routine which takes the joy out of Christmas for me. There were years I would be with my aunts, uncles and cousins but other years it was just me with my parents.
Of course I have memories of Christmas presents I got as a child. I remember getting my first G.I. Joe action figure, handheld electronic football game and my first computer game.
So there have been some traditions I have enjoyed each Christmas. They are memories that I always reflect on and couldn't possibly write about them in detail here. I hope you all enjoy whatever traditions you and have create your own memories. I think sometimes we focus too much on DOING Christmas and not ENJOYING Christmas. We get too busy trying to create moments instead of letting them happen.
