Thank you for bringing up this post. It's made me remember, with extreme fondness, just how much joy and laughter Christmastime was in my family; and especially with my father.
He celebrated Christmas. From weeks before until days after, he had a twinkle in his eye, a spring in his step, and smiled more than I've ever seen. December was a month of celebration, joy, eating, drinking, and being around friends.
Until the time he retired, we'd have a Christmas Eve party that all his friends and their families would come to. We lived in Germany, England, and in several states here in the US, and we always had that party. Usually we kids would sit and be bored at the old folks carrying on.
After the party was done, usually around midnight or later, we'd clean up, and then open our presents--technically it was Christmas Day, I suppose. My father would have spent way too much time, money and effort in getting everyone special gifts; and this progressed as I moved our, got married, and brought his granddaughters to see him.
As I reflect on my life, I get an understanding of how wonderful this time was. My favorite present? Can't tell you. Probably was the electric guitar he got me one year. My favorite memory? A conglomeration of all of the times spent. My biggest regret? Not enjoying the moment enough, or thinking it beyond me.
Funny how your priorities change in a few short years.
