Christmas Past

I can recall a time when Christmas was a grand occasion. When I was a child and all the pretty packages were neatly waiting for Christmas morning. One year I can remember my sister getting a new rifle (refer to blog entitled The Women in my Family) and a light up make-up mirror. I can't recall what I received, but that isn't really that important now is it? I was always more excited about getting to see cousins that I didn't get to see very often. We always went to Nanny's first (mom's mom), but then her mind started slipping and we started going to Aunt's homes instead. It just wasn't the same after that. The tree in Nanny's back yard was chosen as my visualization of a safe place many years later. Nanny had Alzheimer's and we didn't realize it until it was way far advanced. Next we went to Memaw's house. Too many people to ever know everyone's name. I just knew we were all related somehow. Memaw always gave us stuff like pillow cases with liquid embroidery on them. I always thought it was a pretty lame gift when I was young, but I'd sure like to have one now. In 2001 we were supposed to have Christmas Dinner at Memaw's house the weekend before Christmas. Tragedy struck the night before the dinner and Memaw fell and broke her hip. She was 92 years old. I think she was entitled to unsure footing. She underwent surgery to replace the hip on Christmas Eve and died on December 27. You see everyone in the family would alway go to memaw's for as long as I can remember because it might have been her last one. I sure do miss Christmas at Nanny's and Memaw's. The funny thing is that when I go to family Christmas functions now, at 33 years old, I still have to sit at the "Kid's Table". That's okay, I'm still young at heart.