Merry Christmas!

Last night we started the "official" Christmas celebration at my mom's house. I say "official" because, truth be told, we've been pretty much celebrating all week. So last night, Christmas Eve - Polish style. Starting at around 5:30pm the family gathered in my mom's smallish living room. I'm not sure if the room is smallish or rather we are all super-sized but either way, it was a very cramped fit. But also a wonderful fit. Virtually all of my nieces and nephews showed up for this one. B.G. flew in from Hawaii and Amy flew up from Virginia bringing her new baby girl, Sophia. All in all, there were about 35 people there which was a little overwhelming for new baby, Sophia, but for the rest of us, it felt like home.

My sister, Verda, did all the cooking this year. My mom turned 90 last October so cooking for a gang like that would have been too much for her. Verda made all the favorites. Kishka - also known as "blood sausage", kielbasa, smoked Polish sausage, cheesy potatoes, home made cinnamon rolls, fruit whip, and an enormous variety of cookies and home made breads. Before we ate, we each broke off a piece of the Oplatek. That's a thin wafer, almost like a Communion wafer, and everyone takes a piece, makes a silent Christmas wish or blessing and then eats it. It has no taste at all but it has meaning...that's the point.

After everyone is finished eating, we cram ourselves once again into the living room. We sing all of the traditional carols and then it's time for presents. Two of the younger nieces play Santa and begin passing out the gifts. No one who comes to my mom's house at Christmas ever goes home empty handed. She manages to get something for everyone to open and it is always something personal and special. I hate to admit it but I made out like a Christmas bandit this year! I got two pairs of slippers, a blanket, some Joe Boxer pj's, a wallet, some gift cards for shopping later, and a couple of snowmen to add to my collection. I even got a gift card for my cat!

The night ended with our traditional attendance at Midnight Mass at St. Elizabeth's Church. There are was a short concert before it started. My sister Patsy's sings in the choir and she did a solo on "O Holy Night". After Mass, everyone went home to their own homes to rest up for the big event on Christmas Day.

I'm writing this just before getting ready to leave for that one. Christmas Day will be held at my sister Patsy's house. There will be so much food there that we will all feel secretly ashamed of ourselves for eating it all and then going back later for seconds or thirds. But the best part of all of this, Christmas Eve or Day, is that we are all together, laughing, loving and just being our silly selves just like we have always been and know that we will always be. That's the thing about families - they like you no matter what because they already know who you are.

Merry Christmas everyone!