A Quick Post Today: Things Repeating

Across a week of brilliant family time, of busy holiday baking, of the furious knitting of a gift before the deadline hits, of episodes of The Crown and sorting pictures out for Christmas-gift calendars, I have been appreciating family traditions, the things that come again and again with the years in their lightly varied but ever traceable permutations, of which Christmas in the nexus.

For the second year in a row, we are throwing Thanksgiving into this pellmell mix. As I type today, I have excused myself to tap out this brief reflection before I return to start the pumpkin pies, for we are making the full Thanksgiving meal, as I was far away in Norway on the official holiday. Time will see which things become full fledged traditions, and which we will carry for a brief time and then let go.

We disagree in the family sometimes about what the tradition really is. My mom and I get very excited about the yearly “Christmas Eve Party,” which is not really a party–rather just the family, but for which we put out a few cute hors d’oeuvres and sing carols. As we were plotting this last week, my dad, conscious of dwindling refrigerator space and practicality argued that he “didn’t think the hors d’oeuvre party was a tradition.” We’re doing it anyway.

We reenact these family scripts with good humor, and we modify as they need be, but they are a creation of all of us, over the years, the accreted list of activities we’ve all enjoyed, and I think we’ve managed to keep our traditions from becoming burdensome or harsh. They are just good fun, and everyone’s participation makes them the clearest expression of family culture.

I’m off to take part, to get the pies in there in good time. Happy holidays to you all. I’ll write again in the new year. My best to you, and thanks for being here with me,
Jimmy