December 13, 2006
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The Best Christmas
This is a Kween_of_the_Queens writing challenge:
BEST HOLIDAY EVER
Whatever holiday you wish to write about, just make sure it’s a memorable one to you!
Make it long, or make it short, make it REAL! No fiction this time alright? What made it so wonderful? What was special aobut your holiday?
Christmas is a special time for me. Growing up it was filled with Christmas traditions. There were advent wreaths and calendars, getting and decorating the tree, Christmas Mass, Biscochitos, posole, and a myriad of other family holiday musts. There is something about the twinkle of Christmas tree lights that has always made my heart a little lighter. So for me, there have been many great Christmases. But I truly didn’t have to think about this at all, I knew exactly which one to share.
It was 1986. I was 19 and recently married. Hubby was 26. We had left our homes, (for me my parents house) and were off on our big adventure. We were off to Germany. We arrived in mid October. We were living in temporary housing while a place became available. Temporary housing consisted of an attic apartment on the fourth floor. These used to be the servant quarters. The roofs were slanted and although it was 2 bedroom and 1 bath, it was fairly small. Luckily, it was furnished with the basics since our belongings weren’t there yet. Aside from these frugal living quarters, was our frugal living budget. Hubby was in debt up to his eyeballs when we got married –so I put us on a very strict budget in order to make ends meet. Every portion of our lives was budgeted those first years. In the end we had $7 per two week period a piece for entertainment money. That was $3.50/ week. Since we both smoked at that time and we considered that a luxury not a necessity that came out our entertainment money.
That Christmas was the poorest Christmas I’ve ever had, and the richest. We had a great tree, a local merchant opened his tree farm for the Air Force Squadron and we cut a tree for only 5 marks – about $2.50 back then. I lucked across some white mini lights on sale and bought 2 strands. They were .50 cents a piece. My mom sent us an angel for our tree topper that year, along with our first real ornament – two love birds in a cage with “Our First Christmas” written on it. The rest of the tree was decorated with salt dough ornaments I made myself – painted and lacquered and with popcorn I strung. I made a wreath on the wall out of our Christmas cards and we hung our stockings on either side.
That year I made my first batch of Biscochitos solo. My recipe makes 5 ½ dozen and I doubled it, but I was shocked to realize a couple days before Christmas that there were none left! Turns out hubby had been taking them for lunch – a dozen at a time!!! (He gained like 10 pounds that Christmas). I had to have Biscochitos for Christmas so I made another double batch and hid some!
The best part of the Christmas however, wasn’t the cooking or the decorating. The house was filled with love and hope. For Christmas we invited all the young airman that were stuck in the dorms over to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with us. They brought their gifts and their sleeping bags. We broke out the Risk game and started a game which would last until the day AFTER Christmas. We had about 10 people in that small apartment and we had a great Christmas. Everyone was so happy to not be alone, to be around friends and loved ones. We got up and made breakfast in the morning and I remember Hubby having to add extra milk to the eggs because there were more people than we had planned on and not quite enough eggs. We opened gifts, laughed and talked and played Risk and cards and ate Biscochitos and other Christmas goodies for the rest of the day.
That year wasn’t extravagant. I don’t even remember what I got as presents, with the exception of the Angel and the ornament. What was important that year was the people and the feelings. That was a true Christmas. One that no amount of money could every buy. It was a Christmas that I will always remember.
Please go by the Kween_of_the_Queens site and read the rest of the wonderful entries!
What was your best Christmas??? And why??
Comments (29)
Great post as usual. I love the photo. You either look really happy or really tired.
Sounds like a wonderful memory with the true meaning of christmas by helping the fellow airmen. We love to play risk and those cookie things look good. I can see him gaining a few pounds. Heck I can see myself gaining a few pounds eating those. Love the angel and the love birds. Ours is two bunnies on a porch swing. Thanks for sharing and great memories.
Just BEAUTIFUL! It goes to show the best memories are about the people we spend them with, not the gifts we receive. Thank you for sharing your memories with me, I enjoyed reading this so much. My USN days saw many late nights with RISK, so I believe you when you say a game went on for 3 days. Your angel and ornament are beautiful-my mom sent me an ornament for my 1st Christmas together too. What great memories!
what a wonderful christmas that was! thanks so much for sharing that
What a special Christmas. There’s something about those first Christmases together. You know, back in the day when all you really had was each other. Thanks for sharing yours.
Have a Merry Christmas.
What a beautiful post… especially for me about to celebrate my first Christmas stationed in Germany! It’s the people and the memories not the things that count!
How wonderful your post is. The true meaning of this time of year is LOVE…You so shared your love with others…May GOD bless you this Christmas…..MERRY CHRISTMAS MY SISTER, Sis Pris
Great post. I agree..sometimes the most simple things in life, are the ones we truly remember and treasure. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
the simplier the better I say…and sharing with others makes it the best…Smile
That sounds like a great way to spend a holiday away from home and family. One Thanksgiving we did never the same, never leaving the table for 4 days except to wash dishes or silverware..LOL
Wonderful post!! What a cool memory. I’m seeing a trend in these entries, aren’t you? It really is so much more about being with the people you love, doing something kind for someone, etc than about the gifts and hoopla. Great entry!
Sounds wonderful
How really really nice!
MiLady,
A wonderfully precious packed memory. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us!~Kween
Great memory and post.
Reminded me of my and Robert’s first Christmas being married and out on our own.
Excellent Christmas story and definatly the true meaning of Christmas
Thanks so much for sharing.
That’s a wonderful story! Don’t leave us guessing, please post a recipie for boscochitos or at least describe them a little more and let me know when you do. I’ve been so heartened that so many of these stories focus on what is supposed to be important at Christmas.
wow.
:heartbeat:
That’s a beautiful story and I love the pictures too!
Merry Christmas!!
What a rich Christmas memory to have!
What a sweet memory… thank you so much for sharing that!
what a great christmas time! Thanks so much for sharing it.We play risk too and it does take forever to play!Love the picture of you and your hubby what a sweet picture!
The best memories seem to be the ones involving the least gifts, you know? Because then is when you realize the gift you have in the people you are with. What a lovely memory!
What a fabulous story! What a lesson in loving and generousity. I bet those Airmen who would have been alone that year will always remember that Christmas and your kindness and hospitality. I have no idea what Biscochitos are, but they must be wonderful!
ryc, from then on I also went thru the catalog with my seestor, actually that was the funnest part. on the good years, when dad’s Christmas fund didn’t go toward unexpected bills or something. my seestor and I are close to this day.
Thanks for reading.
Your best Christmas ever is such a beautiful Love Story.
TTYL~
Lovely story…and I loved the way you illustrated it! :goodjob:
You are very beautiful. You and you hubby make a nice looking couple. What great memories. I like how you shared pictures with your story. I remember our first year too. It was very slim too. Our table was two boxes put together, hehe.
Great memory, and very well-told! I almost felt like I was there. RYC: if I could afford it, I would head right over! :sunny:
Wonderful post, thank you for sharing
:heartbeat::love::heartbeat:
I loved this! an adventure on your first christmas…….as a couple….carrying on traditions and starting new ones….
and you know what?? WE USED TO PLAY RISK on Christmas, too!!!!! That made me giggle when I saw it!!!