It seems like ages since I have written a blog. It's been over a year. I think the Holidays bring out the Nostalgia in all of us, and this is what motivated me to write.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I am remembering Christmas Eve's from my youth. The tradition was to go to Nana and Grampy Dougherty's and have a roast beef dinner, with all the fixings. We would eat dinner in the living room with the sound of Bing Crosby in the back round. Every time I hear Bing sing a Christmas classic, it transports me back in time to Lincoln and the warmth of 25 Old Winter Street. After dinner, Grampy would sit in his chair, Nana would pass out the gifts and the family would enjoy a peaceful night, with the possibility of the neighbors coming over to join as well. If I close my eyes I can still see the Charlie Brown Christmas tree with the big lights on it. Grampy always waited till the last trees were left for sale and he and Nana somehow made that tree Shine! I think it was Love that made that tree shine. I am so grateful that for so many years my oldest three children were able to share in that tradition with my Nana and Grampy. I still see Grampy playing his drumsticks, and my son Ryan singing Jingle Bells for them. The Dougherty Christmas Eve is a fond memory for me.
Christmas Day was usually a louder affair at either my Aunt Carol's house, My Uncle Gary's house, our house or Nana Rose's house. We alternated for years. There was always food in abundance and usually it was a boisterous Irish affair. It saddens me that today, My mother is the only living Feeley from my grandparents Rose and Charles Feeley, and those Christmas's of past are now just memories. In my nostalgia, I am hoping that My Aunt Carol, Aunt Gina, Uncle Gary, his son Danny, and my grandparents are all at Peace in Heaven, with nothing but love in their heart for each other and for us, as they smile down on us from heaven.
After I was married, the Holidays got really hectic. By the time we had our first three children, our kids had 4 grandparents and 8 great grandparents. We were truly blessed, but we also made sure that we saw all the grandparents during the 2 day span.
It went something like this:
Christmas eve..dress three little ones, and get to Mass. Go to Nana and Grampy Dougherty's in Lincoln to see great grandparents and Nanny and Papa, eat quickly, sing a few carols and then dress the little ones and head to Bedford to celebrate Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa and Great Gram and Great Grampa and all the Vaudo/Naugler cousins. Drive home in time for Santa, and wake up for the next round.
Christmas morning....open Santa's gifts dress three little ones, and head to wherever Nanny and Papa were, and Nana and Grampy Werner. Visit with all the Dougherty cousins and then head back over to Grandma and Grandpa Nauglers to see Great Grammy and Great Grandpa Bodine. It was a whirlwind.
Whoosh all eight great grandparents and four grandparents....lots of memories, lots of chaos, but most of all truly blessed with lots of Love.
Those years passed, and by the time Mary and Jane came along, we had lost many of our Great Grandparents. We were truly blessed to have Donnie's grandmother with us until last year. We all went into her room on Christmas eve and were able to lovingly wish her a Merry Christmas and a sad farewell. She died three days after Christmas,at 102 years old. But up until that day, she always made Christmas eve with the Vaudo/Naugler clan a memorable occasion (even if I never ate the 7 fishes or lobster sauce)
Now we do Christmas Eve with Donnie's family and Christmas Day with mine.
Christmas is a bittersweet time, and this Christmas, I am blessed to have my parents now happily living in an addition they built onto our home. A new tradition will begin this year and they will come in Christmas morning after our children open their gifts and they will spend Christmas morning with us for hopefully many years to come. Donnie's parents in the last few years have come the week before Christmas and we decorate Christmas cookies together. Another new tradition.
Traditions will change many times in the years to come, but the memories I hold in my heart from Christmas's past will live on in my heart for years to come, and I look forward to the new memories and new traditions. Next year, God willing, my grandson (who will be born in the Spring) will have 4 loving grandparents and 4 great grandparents. So many more Christmas memories to make.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my family and friends, and no matter how you celebrate, find the time to remember the memories of your loved ones who have passed and of your past Christmas's. Make new memories and may you know, Peace, Joy, and Love this season and always.
