I have always tended to not be a "keeper" and so I do not have a specific box or boxes of Christmas ornaments and decorations. I do not have the color coded plastic tubs tucked up in the attic. I do, however, have a few ornaments given to me over the years packed in various places that I run across while looking for other things. My tree may need a lot of strung popcorn and paper snowflakes to compliment the beautiful green foliage.
I am secretly pleasantly pleased to take on this challenge of hosting a family Christmas party out here on the homestead. I want to make it a memorable, uplifting experience for my family. A time for stepping out of the stress's of the daily grind for just awhile. I picture everyone with a smile on their faces. Non of that forced or fake stuff.
I want to hear laughter and easy chatting. Should we have soft music playing in the background? That would certainly be a revolutionary thing for this group. In my family we were taught to respect music and take it seriously. To have it as a background does not show respect. You either listen to music or you don't have it playing, period. I remember my dad telling me of a party to which he was invited as a young man, where there were jazz musicians playing their instruments to a happy, drinking, partying crowd. "No one was even listening to the music" he said with disdain! Soon, he had had enough and left via an open window....That's what he told me!?
 |
| by Mark Merizon |
