50+ Lifestyles

Going Home for the Holidays

By Eloise Graham

I had the opportunity to go to the Festival of Trees Silver Bell Social event. One of the Center Stage performances was the Golden Tones from CASI. As I listened to their rendition of “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays” I reminisced about my past Christmases. Where exactly is home? What makes the experience feel like home?

Early on in my life, I remembered making Christmas cookies and candy with my mom and sister. Making taffy and the taffy pull came to mind. Maybe the togetherness of pulling taffy was home. I reminisced about going with my dad and brother to get a Christmas tree, usually from a lot and on the Saturday before Christmas. Again, bonding time with family members. Was that home?

Then, as a teenager, no two Christmases were the same. Both of my siblings had married and had children of their own. So my mom and I often traveled for Christmas. We spent Christmas with an aunt and uncle in central Illinois, and siblings and their family at their different homes in Baltimore, Minneapolis, Washington D. C. or Vermont. There was always family bonding, food, presents and love. Was that home?

Then I went away to school, and then I married. I remember our first Christmas tree, a scrawny, maybe 20” high volunteer tree that a farmer allowed us to cut down and take home to decorate. Again, together time. Was this home? Of course, we went back to our hometown and spent time with our parents. Lots of laughter, presents, food and love. Was this going home?

Employment took us about seventeen hours from our hometown. Our family began to grow, and we started our own traditions at our place. It was only our small family. Was that home? Each year we also traveled back to our hometown and the parents, now grandparents. A lot of memories were made. Was this home?

Then work took us to eight different homes in five different states. We made memories in each place, and we still went back to our parents almost every year. Exactly, where was home? Our children grew, married and started traditions and families of their own. Some Christmases were at our home, and other were spent at their homes. Again, filled with love, laughter, sharing and food. Where is home?

I decided home is not a dot on the map, but is the love, fellowship and sharing with family and friends. Some traditions remain, some new ones are added, but love and joy are always there. That is home. And yes, I am going home for the holidays! May you go home also.

Merry Christmas