My Christmas Story

It took me awhile to finish this, never knowing how to start and when to stop. But a little recollecting of moments shared helped a lot as I put this all together in one tiny piece.

Here is my Christmas Story...

Christmastime meant everything to me when I was a child. It carried a feeling that made every age happy. Back when I was younger, I would always look forward for Christmas Eve and all its revelries. I never quite understood it then why we had to do each thing in harmony with time. Like for instance, at ten in the evening, we would all gather down, not settling since we all are enthusiastic for whatever presents we would receive. The elder cousins, calling out our names, are passing over our gifts to us – that was the drill. We would then wait for our Lolo Melchor’s go gesture to open them all together. The room was forever complete with clatter and splendid wrappers being hurled from here and there. Right before midnight, the maiden cook named Delia would prepare hot chocolate from scratch and would make budbud a day earlier. There would be mango slices to complement it with and we all love this concoction. We would submerge the budbud in our hot chocolate and eat it with mango alternating one from the other. The taste is impeccable, its absolutely a must try. At midnight, we would take our time greeting everyone with open arms, embracing each one tight and kissing them all one by one. We would start with the elders of course and work our way ‘till we finish our Merry Christmas greeting. It had to be known that it was family tradition after all. I never quite understood it way back. Now, it has deepen and come to life all over again.

Then.

 The Mermaids with Lolo Melchor and Lola Rita.

Our Christmas then.

Perhaps it is very timely to say that Christmas is all about family and traditions. It should be passed joyfully from generation to generation.

In one of his beautiful sermons, Father Larry once said that Christmas starts and ends with family. Deep within my heart, I wish for time to heal whatever differences my family has been going through right now. I do not want to question nor do I want to meddle with their differences because I am just a daughter, a niece, and a cousin. I am not in the right place to do such thing. All I can do is clasp my hands so tight and bring my knees down in prayer and lift everything to God. I respect each one highly and never want to break any bonds. There is no place in my heart for pride, nor has any animosity taken part of it. There is however so much kindness and love in my heart right now.

I am so thankful that this year, Julia got to experience what Christmas is like way back when I was a child. She especially love the ripping of those crisp wrappers and finding out what lies under the pretty packaging.

This year, our Tita Maite decided to spend her Christmas with us. She along with Uncle Jim, flew all the way from the States just to spend time with family. She has brightened up our day with her presence and her magic - whatever it is. Some people have this gift. They own it without having to know how or why. When Lolo Melchor was still alive, he used to possess this magic. I simply do not know why. We all felt that magic and I’m sure the little ones have their stories to tell.

Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day dinner.

Christmas Day dinner. This isn't the whole ka-boodle. We are so much more and beyond.

I’d like to thank you, Tita Maite. We all want to thank you.

Thank you is an understatement. It will never be enough. 

But because it needs to be said and done, thank you. 

You are constantly a cloud of sunshine and a ray of hope every time you come home. I wish you would just stay here forever. Your charm and grace lights up the room by modestly walking into it. When you are around, the place seems merrier and always full. Thank you Tita Maite for the person that you are. Thank you for dragging Mama and the others to the positivity cloud, it is certainly not dull on that side of life. Please continue doing so. You are our Christmas Story this year. You have stepped out of your way to make us all glad. I salute you. I wish others felt what we all did. You gave us the magic of Christmas once again and I know all the little ones will never ever forget you. 

God will bless you and your family.