Christmas Memories
Written by Mashell Sarver-Barkman-Kinzey, Edited and Web Published by Machaela Barkman
Remembering the past Christmases I have enjoyed with my family brings a smile to my face and a surge of love to my heart. The warmth I always felt when I entered my grandmother’s home and the love that surrounded me will be with me for the rest of my life.
The aroma of food being prepared would overwhelm me as I walked into Grandma's kitchen. The juices of the oven-baked turkey bubbled like a brook and I imagined it flowed into the stuffing hidden within. I could almost taste it. The potatoes boiling on the stove and the creamed corn simmering beside them made my mouth water. Mom fighting to get a taste of the ham before dinner always brought out some good natured giggles and teasing.
Laughter! I remember the fun and laughs we had before, during, and after dinner. I still smile when I recall Grandpap arguing with everyone about UFOs and the latest story in the National Enquirer. I cannot help chuckling about my Pap and how he believed almost every bizarre tale he read in the tabloid. It did not matter what arguments the rest of us came up with, it was true and that was that!
My fondest memory is the after dinner antics of the men of out family. Of course, the football game was on and they raced into the living room to gaze at the TV screen, rowdy, cheering, and hoping they hadn’t missed much. However, minutes later, as the women cleaned off the table and started to do dishes, a new sound would reverberate from the living room — snoring! Those of us still awake would tickle their feet or play with their hair just to see if we could get them to move. What fun we had! The memory tickles me even now.
Oh, and the sight of Grandma’s Christmas tree was something to behold. Absolutely beautiful. Meticulously decorated, it seemed every ornament had a particular place it belonged on the tree. Now, Grandma did not have a real tree. Instead, she always put up an artificial tree, white as the outside snow. It was always decorated in Poinsettia reds, from the lights hugging it top to bottom to the big, beautiful ornaments hovering in their perfectly selected places, and even the tree skirt that protected the bottom. On that skirt, a miniature little town seemed to bustle about with a life of its own. And the tree was crowned with a gorgeous porcelain angel.
The warmth of family in the holiday season is a legacy I hope to celebrate every year. The memories of love, laughter, and togetherness mean more to me than I could have ever imagined. I am grateful to have such memories to cherish, and writing this reminds me not to take my family for granted. I now understand as each of us grows a little older, we look back to our past for sources of strength. I can thank my family for the strength they have given to me. Through their love and laughter, I have grown into the person I am a today. I am thankful for this family and our precious Christmas memories.
~ Originally written February 1994
