Another awesome Christmas for the record books!

Anyway as is the "norm" in my family, Mom's home was jammed-packed with loved ones. Mom, my four sisters (Aurora, Betty, Josie & Eva), and I were there including our respective spouses, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren - with the exception of the ones aforementioned who were unable to join us in our annual Xmas folly this year for different reasons. I was in awe as I looked across the room and thought about how our family has been so blessed and how it has grown so much in size. With the addition of my great-great nephew, Ayden, this year - our family is now into our 5th generation. I plan to write an article for a local media outlet who requested I do so as 5th generation-based stories are rare and of human interest for the avid reader. BTW: Ayden was born to my great niece, Dominique, on June 25th. 3 days after my birthday (23rd); he was born on the very day that the great Farrah Fawcett passed away due to cancer. Oh, yeah, Michael J. also died that day.

Anyway, like I said, my family and I did partake in our usual follies...one has to be witness to appreciate what I mean, but we do have a great time. We gather on Christmas Eve and everyone eats until their hearts content as everyone pitches in a variety of foods to compliment the food Mom has already prepared. Oh and how there are a bunch of desserts from which to pick from as well. All kinds of edibles one could imagine -sweet, sweet'n'sour, surf'n'turf, hot'n'spicy - is strewed out on the stove, the counter tops, the table, even some making their way onto the washer and dryer because there are so many. As those who did not attend mass await those who did, we keep ourselves occupied closely watching out for the church-goers to finally arrive so we can first eat before we start tearing open all the many gifts placed under the awesome tree. Again I give thanks but for the many gifts which clearly stretch a good 15 ft diameter under the tree which is a pretty big pre-lit one that towers a good 7.5 ft in size. Because of all the gifts each member of the family has brought, it makes the tree seem almost diminutive in size . Despite the bad economic times this world is currently experiencing, our tree does not denote such set-back, but for that we acknowledge the luck we have had rather than being petty and proud of having such things because now is a time to remember so many who have so little and to give thanks and appreciation for what we were able to have because no one knows when that could come to a halt for any of us.

A long while after the clock struck midnight and brought in this day of Christmas, everyone at Mom's knew somewhat of the gifts Santa and his helpers had brought them this year. Even after we all gathered for the holiday at Mom's, many of us still had more presents to open up as each respective family gathers again in various homes to open more presents immediately following this first celebration.  That adds to our great fortune this year, and I continue to be thankful and hopeful.  I hear this year brought more electronics than ever as some received their much anticipated laptops, Wii(s), Playstation3s, X-box3s, PSPs, DSs, MP3s, MP4s, HDTVs, Droids, Iphones...I received several Bollywood DVD's and was ecstatic to see my DVD collection grow to the point where I have to keep it catalogued.
In reflection of Christmas 2009 come and gone, it makes me giggle as I think about how much time and care that goes into wrapping of the gifts, and how it takes just seconds to tear them open with probably little thought being given to how pretty the box looked all draped in Xmas paper attire.  As the gifts are opened, the culprits that are us begin to create another layer of flooring - Christmas wrapper flooring - across Mom's living room and foyer. My sister's and I usually take the lead and ensure that all left-over wrapping, bows, boxes, etc is carefully placed into trash bags before we leave or Mom won't let us go (ha,ha).  We also do this to prevent too much chaos at the end because as careful as we are to make certain that no gifts are thrown away...trust me, in our family, this has been an occurrence for the past few years to have a gift accidentally thrown away.  It is guaranteed to happen each year so we now deem it a family tradition only now we await to see who will fall victim to such said event. This year it was yours truly and my cat. (story about that to follow).

Anyway, another successful Christmas...many blessings...much happiness - yea!