by Matthew Doherty

Created on: June 25, 2008

Music was loud "we wish you a merry Christmas", as Christmas eve was kicking off. The lights were colorful, some blinking and some beeping tunes. My mother her mother and my aunts and uncles all gather round the house to dance and let there Christmas spirit take over. A couple family members trailing around with video cameras and Polaroid's to freeze a memory to frame. The taste of ham and the sides to go along. The one and a few times a year came around to fill the cups with eggnog. Me and my brothers and sisters and cousins all running around anxiously for the morning of Christmas to finally come. Family friends visiting with there platters of crackers and cheese. Some bringing home made goods like cookies and sweets. Bags of presents and cards of joy filling the border of the tree that lit up with delight.

As night began to move deeper into the time we would all get together in the family room and no matter how many people there were we would find a seat. Whether it was on the couch, on the table or on the floor. One of us would crawl down to the tree and begin to pick presents from the family and give them to the receiver. Everybody with wandering eyes hoping to get there's. "A play station" me and my brother screamed. "Oh my god, this is so cute", my sister blurted to my aunt after opening a dress. Tinsel everywhere and gift wrap shredded scattered the house like fur from a pet. But nobody cared because on the day of Christmas eve and Christmas nothing mattered, just as long as the family was together we would enjoy the moment. The one time a year I would actually see some of my family members I never get to visit.
After the surprises most the guests left and we said our goodbye's. It was off to bed for us younger ones and didn't have no problem with that, we knew that when we woke Santa would have came by now and left us presents. So me and my brothers and my sister would grab a few cookies out the jar and pour some milk and lay them on the counter top. Laying in bed I could always remember my father and his friends at the end of the night enjoying a drink and playing card games. Until the sounds of Christmas melodies had my eyes drop like dead weight.
Morning came and footsteps ran the house, "SANTA CAME,SANTA CAME" we would all shout. We anxiously wait the few minutes for our parents to get out of bed and climb down stairs to the tree. Gathered around we all pass our presents to the name that tagged the gift. Receiving all the presents and playing with them for hours dinner came. We all sat down as a family and enjoyed a nice tasty turkey with sides like carrots, squash, potatoes and more. This is one of my favorite memories because we never have them any more. To lose such a wonderful tradition like this is devastating. Christmas and Christmas eve at my house was the best memory I have kept.

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