by Colinda Abner

When I was little my sister and I would get to pick out one present each on Christmas Eve. Of course our choices were always guided by our mom. Each year our Christmas Eve presents turned out to be new pajamas so we could sleep in them. Christmas morning we would get up and make sure everyone was awake before we could go into the living room to see what Santa had left us. I can still see the tree which always sat in the same place. The decorations were always a little different but there was always one or two that were real old. The candle at the top was always the same. We would go crazy over our Santa presents and then have to wait until every one was settled before we could open the other ones. We would tear into the presents like there was no tomorrow.

I grew up with my mother, my grandmother ( Nanny) and my older sister. After we got all of our presents opened, Nanny and Momma would call everyone and tell them Merry Christmas and then go into the kitchen to start Christmas dinner. All my uncles and aunts and cousins would come over and there would be more gifts to exchange.

Over the years, after Nanny died, the family quit getting together so much. But, when I had my oldest daughter Brandy ( she is 20) a new tradition began. No matter how old the girl got, Santa would bring her a Cabbage Patch doll (Tradition holds that Santa quits coming after your 13th birthday, even if you are too old for Santa.) I didn’t realize how much this tradition meant to Brandy until this year. A friend of hers will be spending Christmas with us. She is a Jehovah Witness and doesn’t celebrate Christmas. Brandy came to me and asked me if I would please make sure that Santa got Renee ( her friend ) a Cabbage Patch so that she would be included. Brandy said even if it had to come out of the money for presents for her.

Traditions are something that we all grow up with and miss terribly when they are gone. Christmas will never be the same without my Nanny. It can never be the same as when I was a little girl, but I can continue to carry on family traditions and give my girls precious memories just like my Nanny and Momma gave to me. Have a very Merry Cabbage Patch Christmas everyone.

Colinda K. Abner
magica99@earthlink.net

About the Author: Born and raised in Deer Park, TX ( Southeast Houston) She has three girls. She works for a Computer Company as a Level 1 tech support for portables. She is searchingfor something that she can do from home on a full time basis.

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