Do you value the work that goes into writing this weekly letter? Please consider a paid subscription today. Your support makes this work possible and is deeply appreciated.
My grandson and his partner, my granddaughter and her wife, my daughter and I gathered on December 23rd to celebrate Christmas. This year we decided to do Secret Santa rather than have every one of us buy everyone else gifts. It was a good choice, one suggested by my granddaughter. She's a senior at Portland State University and funds are limited. It suits me as I am also a senior (not at university) living on limited funds.
We chose the first person to receive a gift and her Santa presented it, thereby revealing the secret. She then chose the next person and so on until we each received a gift and knew who our personal Santa was. I was my daughter's secret Santa, and was successful in keeping the secret all the way up to the reveal. What fun! I also didn't know who my Santa was -- it was my grandson's partner -- and was so happy to receive a gift from her.
I baked The New York Times Big Chocolate Tart, my daughter baked pumpkin chocolate cookies and made hors d'oeuvres. My grandson and his partner brought scalloped potatoes, and everyone brought orange juice!
As a special surprise, my granddaughter dressed up in formal gowns, mine red, hers green. Very festive.
Young couples have so many gatherings to attend with parents on both sides of the families, and sometimes extra parents (in the case of divorce, for example). In some families the grandparents host the gatherings for generations. And in many families these visits involve travel to other cities, states, even countries. Is it any wonder people can find the holidays stressful?
All this on top of financial stresses, job requirements, health issues -- never mind the state of the world.
So if you are as lucky as I am, and don't have to travel or buy gifts you can't afford, count yourself among the fortunate few. I am so grateful to have had such a lovely and peaceful family gathering to celebrate Christmas.
Please share your own memories about the holidays, whether or not you celebrate them.
Sounds like you had a beautiful holiday. My you have a wonderful New Year as well.
Hugs Denise
What a lovely celebration, Sandra! Not only were you dressed for the occasion, but the menu sounds wonderful. This holiday season turned out to be busier than usual and I've fallen behind when it's come to responding to email, including your postings -- not that I haven't read them. At any rate, best wishes to all, and here's hoping for the best for all of us for 2024.