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Christmas traditions come and go just like the people in your life. But they don't really go, do they?
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James Lileks
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There was, to my surprise, a happy ending to this.
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As one whose children are now 16 and 12, with the family I grew up with dwindling, I am very cognizant of the passing of time. The commentary at the end about things never staying the same I found very poignant. This was a work of beauty.
I would like to note, however, the lighting on our own tree:
While I don't do the strings of Danish flags like my parents did, it just doesn't feel right without real candles. The tradition growing up was that the candles would be lit while we sang a few Christmas carols, and then immediately extinguished with the electric taking over. The curtains were only ever briefly ignited once.
LEDs are practical, and candles are nice. Though I would imagine after that incident at the Diner a few years back with the fellow from the Perdition Army that you wouldn't trust the bubble lights.
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Listening to this whike I prep the traditional Wigalia dinner hits much harder than it would have otherwise.
Merry Christmas to all, but I must go as there is something in my eye.
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Despite my mostly east coast childhood my Christmas experiences remained pretty close to Mom and Dad’s South Dakotan Lutheran roots (railroad towns of Mobridge and Bowdle, SD). We’d eat Christmas Eve dinner, do presents, and go the candlelight service. My sister and I would wake up to filled stockings.
I also have the family’s volume 5 & 6 of Goodyear’s Great Songs of Christmas and look forward to hearing them each year. The LPs traveled from point of purchase in Concord, CA to St. Louis, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and back to California. I got them from Mom years ago. Somehow, you know to hang onto the important stuff.
I love the irony of Streisand, Dinah Shore, Danny Kaye, Steve and Edie, and Sammy Davis, Jr. singing Christmas carols. Although it was really birthed on his first Christmas album, Andy Williams’ Oh, Holy Night gives me chills every time I hear it. What a performance.
Merry Christmas.
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@jameslileks A guy in my office grew up in Horace ND. I showed him your website's Fargo section. He loved the picture of the Lilek's Oil bowling team. He said Lilek's Oil played a big part in Fargo's growth by delivering gas to the farmers.
You'll be glad to know that for at least a generation locals will still be calling it Lilek's Oil no matter what sign is on the door.
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