Family Ties

Andrea here, continuing our daily celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmastide with short posts on the spirit of the season. The holidays have been a bit quiet for me as this year, instead of our usual Christmas Day gathering, my family has been scattered around the globe. In celebration of my niece getting her PhD in English two weeks ago, my older brother and his wife took her to Rome (it had to be that timing because both my niece and SIL are teaching at different universities with different breaks) My younger brother and his family just moved houses in Wyoming and were frantically getting their old place ready for sale . . . And my nephew (the PhD's brother) jetted off to Brazil to be with his fiancee. (Niece and nephew pictured here)

So, I was feeling a little nostalgic with everyone so far away. And then very early on Christmas Eve morning I was awakened by the "beep-beep" of a text coming into my cellphone. Hmmm. I was tempted to ignore it—I'm not big on texting or being a slave to my phone. However, I decided to take a quick look and it's my nephew from Brazil, apologizing for the wake-up call but in need of immediate cookie help! He was surprising his fiancee with a batch of traditional Swiss "hasselnuss stengeli" Christmas cookies and couldn't remember how to make the lemon-sugar glaze.

So off we go on a flurry of texts . . . He has very fond memories of making the cookies with his grandmother (my mother). As do I. (He loves to cook and is very good at it.) The missing piece of the recipe was easy-peasy to send off but for the next little while we were also exchanging funny memories of past holidays . . . like the time my mother's usually well-behaved German Shepherd, who NEVER stole food, walked through the dining room in mid-feast with a huge wedge of Jarlsberg that he had snatched from the low cocktail table in the living room . . . and the time my mother was insisting on taking SO many group pictures of the family that he instigated getting everyone to take their shirts off when she was fiddling with the camera. (She framed that picture.)

Anyway, when it ended, I was laughing aloud and feeling, well, very connected, even though we were very far away. To me it was a perfect vignette of what the spirit of the season is all about. Family, friends, laughter, sharing . . . and though I don't think of devices are a very good way to do that, I was grateful for modern technology letting me connect to a loved one and share a few laughs.

What about you? Were you able to celebrate together with loved ones? Or did you do some long distance connecting too?

Comments

[Amy J]

I *love* this story. There is something about shared tales and baking that bring families together - even if sometimes we have slightly different personal memories of events.

[Mary Jo Putney]

What a wonderful Christmas story, Andrea, and what a wonderful family you have. Lucky Brazilian fiancee! And I'd love to see the shirtless family feast photo. *G*

[Andrea Penrose]

So true about baking, Amy! There is something primalabout food and camaraderie. And I love how you point out that we all remember things differently! REALLY true!

[Andrea Penrose]

Yes, she's a very lucky girl! My nephew is a sweetheart. Thoughtful, romantic, fun, adventurous, reliable . . . a swoonworthy hero! (But then I'm biased!)

[Sue McCormick]

My daughter from Omaha has been here since the 24tth. Her brother from down the road joined us on the 25th. Telephone call from one granddaughter in Virginia.and the grandson down the road. Emails and Facebook messages from everyone else. So yes. we're scattered, but we've been together this year.

[Andrea Penrose]

Sue, how lovely that you had a nice gathering with your children. And greetings through modern technology are really nice too. Much as I love the idea of real letterwriting, it's special to be able to connect with friends and family in real time, and over very long distances.

[Anne Gracie]

Lovely story, Andrea — and I think it's very much the modern Christmas, with families scattered all over the globe. Thank goodness for the devices by which those distances can be closed.

[Andrea Penrose]

Yes, totally agree, Anne. It makes my skin crawl to see a couple in a restaurant looking at their phones rather than talking to each other. But for friend and family far away, technology is lovely for connecting.

[Maryellen Webber]

My husband,son and I flew up to Connecticut to celebrate Christmas with our families. I am grateful that we are able to take time off to fly from Georgia to CT. We had a big dinner on Christmas day and will be having a carol sing at my brother's house tomorrow night. My Filipino sister in law began this tradition and invites a Filipino singing group to perform for us. A buffet dinner is included with lots of sweet treats!!!

[Andrea Penrose]

Sounds just wonderful, Maryellen! So glad you were able to jet north. I love how international traditions become part of family celebrations—it's so lovely.

[Teresa Broderick]

Yes I had family at home this year. My brother, his wife and children came and my eldest daughter came home from London. She's off visiting friends in Dublin as I speak but is coming back again for New Year. Great to have her here for so long. Brother still here too. Enjoyed the hols even though it was the first without Mam. She loved this time of year though and would hate to think we'd be unhappy.
Hope you enjoyed it even with your family scattered. I agree with you about technology but sometimes it's good to have around.

[Andrea Penrose]

Teresa, I'm so glad you had so many family members with you, especially on the first Christmas without your Mother. That first one is really hard. So it's wonderful that you were surrounded by love and good cheer. Your Mother was there in spirit.

[Kareni]

Chiming in late as my computer died and I'm only recently back on line and learning to use some new technology. What a wonderful story, Andrea! I'm happy you were able to spend time with your nephew via text. Our daughter lives/works in South Korea. We spent a couple of hours on her Christmas Day/our Christmas Eve chatting and opening gifts together. I'm grateful for the technology that made that possible.