Day One of the 25 Days to Christmas

Horace and his niece Shannon
& Little Bit of course

December 1st is a Saturday this year. What a great day of the week to start my 25 days of Christmas. We invited Horace’s sisters and brother for dinner which meant that the first half of the day was spent cleaning and prepping the house. Fortunately the trees were up and all the decorating was done but somehow our house is always in transition.  There is always a project that has at least one room out of sorts. We are getting ready to paint the room we call the Christmas room, which is actually the storage, junk and spare, spare, can’t sleep anywhere else bedroom. So in order to make preparation for overnight guest I had to sort through a lot of junk, throw away stuff and start a large box for the Salvation Army. But finally, the house was as straight as my house is ever going to be and we were ready to start preparing dinner. Fortunately, Horace is in charge of this department and his dear friend Charlie, a master chef, was ready to start cooking. The menu included a salad, chicken corydon-bleu with a wonderful sauce, Horace’s famous sautéed mushrooms, green beans, scalloped potatoes, and Berries Romanoff. The table was set, the candles lit and the dinner started right on time. 

Horace's sister Cheryl
& her husband David

Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. I can still remember that wonderful, anxious feeling of anticipation at Christmas that I always had as a child. Of course Santa and the presents were all I could think about then but as an adult looking back I can only remember a few of the presents. The real memories are the hustle and bustle of family meals, running and playing with my cousins, those silly, human moments that always happen whenever you get a group together. And so kicking off my 25 days of Christmas with a family meal was perfect way to start the season. 

The meal went perfect. Horace and Charlie had timed everything just right. My only responsibility was preparing the dessert. Of course Berries Romanoff is amazingly simple and delicious. My step daughter Ami was the one who suggested we make a few months ago and I fell in love with it. All you have to do is wash some fresh berries, in our case we used strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. You put them in a martini glass, sprinkle a little powder sugar over them and whip some whipping cream with brandy or lemon juice. Unfortunately, when I went back to the kitchen to whip the cream I discovered that Charlie had used all my whipping cream for his sauce. Charlie was on the spot and immediately jumped in his car and ran to the store. Like I said it only takes a few minutes when you have all the ingredients. So 20 minutes later I return to the dining room with the dessert. No one even noticed. Lol!

Horace’s two sisters, Charlotte and Cheryl were there. Cheryl’s husband David and Charlotte’s daughter Shannon. Unfortunately, Horace’s brother couldn’t make it. His canine companion of 18 years probably won’t see his 19th Christmas. I know this is a very difficult time for Horace's brother Bob. Victor, a Cocker Spaniel, Japanese Chin mix has been a very special friend. He’s been there through thick and thin. Graduations, marriages, grand children, deaths of loved ones. He’s been a friend through it all. Bob was missed but Victor just couldn’t make the trip and couldn’t stay alone.

Horace Shrader (1967)

A Shrader Family dinner in La Grange

After dinner we moved to the living room where the 1950’s gas logs were already warming the room. The tree this year looks particularly nostalgic with the old fashioned shaped c-7 LED bulbs and brand new old fashion bubble lights. We got out an old photo album and looked at pictures from years past. And I retrieved some letters that Horace received when he was in the army in the 60’s. Horace hadn’t looked at the letters in over 40 years. One letter post marked December 5, 1967 from his mother starts “Dear son, How are you? We are all ok and busy.” She ends with “If you want me to do any Christmas shopping for you let me know.” And closes, “Please write. Love Mom. That letter found him  completing training at Fort Gordon, Georgia. A Christmas card sent the following year from his Aunt on December 17th 1968 would find him half way around the world in Viet Nam. She wrote “Hope this finds you well. I know you prefer being home but all we can do is pray that you stay in good health and get these months behind you. Best of Luck. Love Aunt Myrtle. Oddly enough she signed the card twice with love but never wished him a merry Christmas. She probably knew it wasn’t going to be very merry. 

Horace grew up in a family like mine where big get togethers were common place. Sunday’s at Grandma’s eating fried chicken. He and his sisters swapped stories about aunts and uncles and cousins. Listening to the stories, laughing and all the time making new memories. I want to remember that is what's important this season it's not the presents under the tree but the presents are around the tree. 

My Christmas prayer for the next 25 days is that I can share that heavenly gift of love with all those that I come in contact with this Christmas season. As I celebrate the season of the good news that Christ was born, I pray that  I will posses more of that true Christmas “Christ like” spirit. And I give thanks for my wonderful family and friends and the blessing of having those we love near at this time of the year.