Holiday Traditions

Y'all, I could have sworn I'd done a post on this another year, but hooray for you and me, this is a first!  

A lifetime ago, my college boyfriend's mom asked what my family's holiday traditions were.  I didn't know what to say - we didn't really have any!  She seemed to think I was an even bigger weirdo after that. The only thing I can think of to this day is that I remember my parents having the entire family over on Christmas Eve - aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and so on. There was a dining table literally full of food and my cousin and I were in heaven with all of the presents that were just for us (our younger siblings hadn't been born yet).  I have no idea how many times that happened, but it definitely all stopped when my maternal grandmother passed away (I was 8 that year).  

My husband and I are pretty fly by the seat of our pants people and by nurture so is our girl.  Nevermind that I plan programs for my day job; it's like I'm two different people when it comes to work and home.  Anyway, the last ten months have really put a damper on our weekend adventures.  I don't know that our former lifestyle would be considered a tradition of any sort anyway.  

Thanksgiving and Christmas both have our extended familial gathering traditions, though.  Thanksgiving day is always spent with my in-laws and the menu is identical from year to year.  Whichever day we get together with my side of the family (see where the non-commital trait comes from?) post-Thanksgiving day, my sister-in-law is the main chef and we gather at she and my brother's house.  Christmas Eve is always spent with my family in hopes of my future house becoming the hub for that event.  Christmas Day is always spent at my in-laws with the identical meal that we have at Thanksgiving.  

This year my side of the family is trying a tapas approach to the holiday meal.  My sister-in-law grew up in southern Florida and her family incorporated a lot of Hispanic culture in their holiday celebrations.  They used to do a late-night dinner with a spread of Cuban food.  I guess it's the Hispanic version of the Creole influenced midnight Mass and Revillion dinners that many people do in New Orleans. 

On that note, I'd like to try a seafood Christmas dinner one year.  When I was pregnant many years ago, my husband and I drove to see the Christmas Eve bonfires along the river.  That is definitely something I want to load up the kid cousins for one year.  Oh, and Celebration in the Oaks is an annual event that I have brought from my childhood into adulthood.  

Other than that, I like some non-traditional Christmas tunes and I am totally open to goofy Christmas card photos and some kooky ornaments, but I also love the classic songs, vintage looking cards and decorations.  Is your family traditional or do y'all change it up a lot?  What is the magical ingredient that makes it feel like the holidays for you?  

Love in the Time of COVID

I went to the same school in kindergarten as I went to fourth through sixth grade.  While I was there, my big crush was on David Mueller.  His dad runs the WWII Museum in New Orleans nowadays if you're looking for context.  My childhood friend, Noelle, and I would chase David around the playground at recess.  One day my favorite teacher "pulled us over" and gave us a verbal scolding for essentially harassing David.  She wasn't wrong; we basically were since we were so obsessed with him. I don't know that he really minded, though.  When Noelle and I were in college he came to visit and must have called my dorm room six times before I got home from class.  When I finally went over to Noelle's room to visit, he was all flirty.  Our moms were close friends all through our childhood so everyone was in on what was happening from day one.    

All of my life I was boy-crazy.  When I went to a different school for first through third grade, I had a crush on a boy named Jesse (sorry, don't remember his last name).  He was always nice to me, but he had a girlfriend named Joy.  I hated her and she was always snooty to me.  Lol!  Young love. 

Our girl had a "boyfriend" when she was in daycare.  He'll be referred to as "M".  They go to different schools now, but every now and then they'll see each other at a birthday party, or have a Zoom call.  The other day, she and I were getting home from school and she announced that her neighborhood friend that we'll call "J" was "so sweet and so cute".  Later that evening at dinner, she said that they give each other "kissies".  I had to ask what that meant - thankfully, it's kisses on the cheek and nothing more.  The weird twist is that J's dad and I were involved several years ago.  The kids don't know that, but my husband and J's mom know that.  It's all fine since they're young and innocent now, they just can't get together in high school.  😉 

Other than my crushes all through school, I didn't actually date until high school.  My husband, on the other hand, had all the little "girlfriends" from a young age like our daughter.  I find it entertaining but also a little baffling mostly because I don't want our girl to grow up too fast.  I was playing with Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch dolls, and Barbies at her age.  She loves her Barbies and Legos, but also seems to come out of nowhere with some outfits she wants to go play in when it involves J.  

I'm sure it's all fine.  Today they acted like street musicians and sat at a patio table playing guitar (him) and ukulele (her).  Other times they build forts and play house in the treehouse his dad built him. There's nothing I need to worry about, right?  She's got another crush at her school, too.  She said that she doesn't know which boy to marry!  Y'all.  Boy. Crazy. up in here!