“Christmas Eve”
“Christmas Eve”
~~~~~~~~~~
It’s Christmas Eve. Since Black Friday, the pressure has been on. You have to get the right gift for everyone. You have to work more than the rest of the year to get that overtime pay to afford for all the gifts. Everything is moving at record-breaking speed, as you get dressed in your absolute best outfit. This is how I feel during the Christmas Season, but it’s ok. It’s my favorite season because of all the family togetherness. I don’t have time to think about it...yet. This is the one time of the year I get to break out the suit and tie. I rush to get not only myself ready but the family ready to leave on time. We rush to the church and as usual, the church is packed. More people in pews than any other time of the year. All because everyone knows, this is THEE most important night of the year. My mother and father are already there because my mother would rather come two hours early than have the slightest chance of walking in late. My sister and her family are there. We are surrounded by family and it brings an unexplainable comforting feeling. All the children in the church are sitting with their parents trying their hardest to be on their best behavior so that Santa will deliver all the presents. As the service begins, people are anxiously waiting for it to be over so they can get through the next 24-hour rush of presents and family. They can’t wait until the rush is over and they can sit back, relax and breathe a sigh of relief. Not me though. As mass begins, I know what’s coming and I wait the entire year for it.
After communion, while everyone is sitting there, the overhead lights go out, leaving only the alter lit up surrounded by Christmas Lights. It’s nice, peaceful and then the choir begins singing:
“Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace”
A warm feeling washes over me. My childhood innocence of waiting for Santa comes rushing back and for that one moment, I’m a kid again. All the responsibilities are washed off and I can ENJOY Christmas again.
Bringing me back to when I was a kid, I reminisce about having the Seven Fish Dinner with my grandparents. Despite the fact that I only ate ONE fish, it wasn’t about the fish. It was simply about the fact that we would all get together. It was the one time of year that we got to see my aunts, uncles and cousins. Everyone would gather around what seemed like a huge table and eat together. It was the only time of the year that I ate flounder and I loved it! Then we’d rush off to church before heading to the other side of the family and seeing all my aunts, uncles and cousins on that side of the family.
It was a very innocent time of our lives. Before we were forced to grow up and become stressed by the worries of the world. A time when our loved ones were always there for us before they passed away. As much as I love my life now and wouldn’t change a thing, there is still something I miss very deeply about those times and wish I could have them back just once more. Just so I can appreciate them more than I did at the time. I never thought that time would end so I don’t think I embraced them enough. So now, I try to savor every moment with my kids that I can. I can’t help but wonder, am I doing as good a job as MY parents to create such unforgettable memories for MY kids as they did for theirs?
The best way I know to close this is with wise words from my favorite singer, Nat “King” Cole:
“And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you “
~~~~~~~~~~
All photographs by Keith J. Fisher
©2020 Grazie Santangelo. All Rights Reserved
