Grandpa’s Favorite Christmas

[Note: Our last issue of the year, coming out on Christmas Eve, is our Year In Review issue, so this is my last column for this year. Thus, I’ll close the year with a Christmas story.]

“Tell me about the Christmas, Grandpa.”

“Which Christmas is that, sweetheart?”

“The one with the ice and the lights and everyone. You know. That one.”

“Well, that was a long time ago. I was your age, I guess. Maybe a little older, maybe not. We lived in a large old house that was built 100 years before that.”

“And that was the Christmas with everyone there.”

“Yep. There were my sisters and my Mom and Dad – your great grandparents – my grandparents and even my great Grandpa Tony and my great grandma, MorMor.”

“And it got very cold.”

“Yes, that Christmas Eve it was cloudy and rainy most of the day. Late in afternoon it became windy and the temperature dropped and the rain changed to snow – heavy, wet snow.”

“It stuck to everything.”

“It stuck to everything – that’s right. Soon the ground was covered and all the trees were white. Even the power lines became thick with snow. By the time we finished Christmas Eve dinner there was a lot of snow and it was dark. My Dad went out to shovel the walks and then came in and built a big fire.”

“And then the lights went out.”

“Not long after. The fire got going and we passed out all of the presents. We were just about to begin taking turns opening them when all the lights went out – in our house and the whole neighborhood. We found out later that a power line had snapped from the snow and the cold.”

“Were you scared?”

“Maybe a little at first, but we had some light from the fire. My Mom and my grandmas got candles out and set them all up in the living room. Pretty soon we had plenty of light.”

“And then you opened presents?”

“And then we opened presents. We all took turns just like other years, but that year we had only candle light to see what we were giving and receiving.”

“And did you get what you asked for?”

“I really don’t remember, darling. I’m sure I got lots of wonderful things. But most of all I remember the candlelight and MorMor telling me about how they had always used candles at night when she was a little girl.”

“What happened next?”

“Well, not long after all the presents were opened it was time for bed. The lights were still out but my Mom and Dad tucked me in and left my door open. They even put a candle in the bathroom in case I got up in the night.”

“And in the morning you came down and played with all your presents.”

“Yes. In the morning the sun was out and there was lots of snow everywhere. All my toys were in a nice neat pile waiting for me and my stocking was filled with presents from Santa. We ate a big breakfast of MorMor’s Swedish pancakes and opened the rest of our presents. We had a big fire all day and Great Grandpa Tony pulled me all over the yard on my sled. And that night, before we went to bed, we turned off all the lights and lit the candles again just for fun.”

“Grandpa?”

“Yes.”

“Was that your favorite Christmas?”

“Oh, I don’t know, sweetheart. It certainly was a wonderful Christmas with all the snow and the candlelight and my whole family there, but I don’t think it was my favorite Christmas.”

“Well then, what was your favorite Christmas, grandpa?”

“Why the next one, sweetheart, the Christmas that is coming. Now off to bed.”

Wishing all of you a warm and wonderful holiday, filled with family, friends and candlelight. ~ Steve