Page 32 - Dec 2016 BNP ALL
P. 32
Page 32 December 2016 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
To Grandmother’s One year, my family hosted two me to make new ornaments. As I
missionaries for Christmas. Those said, there were a couple of divorces
House We Go boys were a long way from their in the family. Now, when divorce
homes, and Mom invited them happened, if Gran liked the “ex”
by Valerie Nusbaum to stay with us. We took them then that person’s ornament got
to Gran’s, and then to midnight hung from the ceiling instead of
No matter which occasions you spilled out into the yard. It didn’t church. When those boys started on the tree with the family. If Gran
celebrate, the holidays are filled with hurt that Grandma always served giggling and singing loudly, well, didn’t like the “ex,” the ornament
all kinds of traditions, rituals, and two bowls of punch—one spiked that’s when we caught on about was hung from a tree in the
gatherings. and one “safe.” We found out years Gran’s punch. Yes, it was a horrible backyard. To my knowledge, only
later that she spiked both bowls, but thing to do, but for once, I was one ornament was ever hung in the
For my family, one that stands no one ever got mad at her. That completely innocent. Dad gave Gran yard, and I won’t name names.
out is the annual Christmas Eve explains why the kids were never a stern talking-to and that was that.
party at Grandma’s house. My given punch from the bowls, though. Gran made her famous sausage
grandmother was several inches shy She kept a pitcher in the kitchen for Another year, Uncle Lewis had a balls with a spicy cheese dipping
of five-feet tall, and she lived in a us. little too much of the festivities. He sauce every year. There was always
tiny house near Harpers Ferry, West grinned glassily at everyone and sat country ham, too. I was usually in
Virginia. My brother and I could Her little house was decorated back to light his cigar. Everything charge of cookies, because she said I
literally sing “Over the River and from top to bottom with all manner was fine until my mom realized that decorated them better than she did.
Through the Woods” whenever we of shiny, glittery things. If it sparkled he had lit his finger instead, and I knew she didn’t really like baking
went there. or lit up, chances are it was hanging she yelled for him to put out the cookies. Pies were her specialty, and
from a doorway or the ceiling. As I fire. Uncle Lewis stuck his finger there were always a lemon meringue
Attendance at Grandma’s house said, Gran was short and she never in the bowl of egg nog. Every year and a coconut cream.
on Christmas Eve was mandatory. hit her head on anything. Such was after that, one of us kids would dig
Her three grown children, their not the case for me and my brother, through the box of Halloween fake Usually in November, after she
spouses, and all eight of us cousins but we were the tall ones in the body parts and throw a plastic finger got her retirement check, Gran
crowded into what Gran called family. in the egg nog. Uncle Lewis was not would give Mom some money to
her “peanut shell.” Grandma’s amused. shop and buy gifts for us. Gran
brothers and sister, and their Anyone was welcome at Gran’s, liked to wrap them herself and put
families, were always included, as and over the years, there were lots Our grandmother loved her them under her tree to hand out.
were her neighbors. It was hot as of friends, significant others, and Christmas trees, and she frequently We pretended to be surprised every
blazes in there, and by the end of occasional strangers, who walked changed her mind about what type Christmas. We’d get an extra gift,
the evening, we had all shed our through that front door. Eventually, of tree was best. Sometimes she too—one that Grandma had chosen.
church clothes and were stepping all eight of us kids got married, had a real tree, and sometimes it She bought extra gifts for guests
outside on Grandma’s front porch some more than once, and the great- was artificial. She had one of those and wrapped and put those under
to cool off. The noise and laughter grandchildren started arriving. silver trees with a color wheel, the tree, too. She didn’t have a lot
too. Another year, she sent my dad of money, but she so enjoyed doing
out to cut a branch for her, which this.
she covered with cotton and hung
ornaments from. My Grandmother passed away
in 1994. Aunt Shirley moved into
Knowing that she treasured her the house, and to this day, those of
collection of ornaments, I decided us who can make it still travel to
to make a set for her. I carefully the peanut shell in West Virginia
painted and lettered the names of on Christmas Eve. It seems like the
all the family members onto glass right thing to do.
balls and added a lot of glitter.
Gran loved them, and as the family Happy Holidays to all of you!
continued to grow, she’d remind Randy and I hope none of you find
coal in your stockings.
To Grandmother’s One year, my family hosted two me to make new ornaments. As I
missionaries for Christmas. Those said, there were a couple of divorces
House We Go boys were a long way from their in the family. Now, when divorce
homes, and Mom invited them happened, if Gran liked the “ex”
by Valerie Nusbaum to stay with us. We took them then that person’s ornament got
to Gran’s, and then to midnight hung from the ceiling instead of
No matter which occasions you spilled out into the yard. It didn’t church. When those boys started on the tree with the family. If Gran
celebrate, the holidays are filled with hurt that Grandma always served giggling and singing loudly, well, didn’t like the “ex,” the ornament
all kinds of traditions, rituals, and two bowls of punch—one spiked that’s when we caught on about was hung from a tree in the
gatherings. and one “safe.” We found out years Gran’s punch. Yes, it was a horrible backyard. To my knowledge, only
later that she spiked both bowls, but thing to do, but for once, I was one ornament was ever hung in the
For my family, one that stands no one ever got mad at her. That completely innocent. Dad gave Gran yard, and I won’t name names.
out is the annual Christmas Eve explains why the kids were never a stern talking-to and that was that.
party at Grandma’s house. My given punch from the bowls, though. Gran made her famous sausage
grandmother was several inches shy She kept a pitcher in the kitchen for Another year, Uncle Lewis had a balls with a spicy cheese dipping
of five-feet tall, and she lived in a us. little too much of the festivities. He sauce every year. There was always
tiny house near Harpers Ferry, West grinned glassily at everyone and sat country ham, too. I was usually in
Virginia. My brother and I could Her little house was decorated back to light his cigar. Everything charge of cookies, because she said I
literally sing “Over the River and from top to bottom with all manner was fine until my mom realized that decorated them better than she did.
Through the Woods” whenever we of shiny, glittery things. If it sparkled he had lit his finger instead, and I knew she didn’t really like baking
went there. or lit up, chances are it was hanging she yelled for him to put out the cookies. Pies were her specialty, and
from a doorway or the ceiling. As I fire. Uncle Lewis stuck his finger there were always a lemon meringue
Attendance at Grandma’s house said, Gran was short and she never in the bowl of egg nog. Every year and a coconut cream.
on Christmas Eve was mandatory. hit her head on anything. Such was after that, one of us kids would dig
Her three grown children, their not the case for me and my brother, through the box of Halloween fake Usually in November, after she
spouses, and all eight of us cousins but we were the tall ones in the body parts and throw a plastic finger got her retirement check, Gran
crowded into what Gran called family. in the egg nog. Uncle Lewis was not would give Mom some money to
her “peanut shell.” Grandma’s amused. shop and buy gifts for us. Gran
brothers and sister, and their Anyone was welcome at Gran’s, liked to wrap them herself and put
families, were always included, as and over the years, there were lots Our grandmother loved her them under her tree to hand out.
were her neighbors. It was hot as of friends, significant others, and Christmas trees, and she frequently We pretended to be surprised every
blazes in there, and by the end of occasional strangers, who walked changed her mind about what type Christmas. We’d get an extra gift,
the evening, we had all shed our through that front door. Eventually, of tree was best. Sometimes she too—one that Grandma had chosen.
church clothes and were stepping all eight of us kids got married, had a real tree, and sometimes it She bought extra gifts for guests
outside on Grandma’s front porch some more than once, and the great- was artificial. She had one of those and wrapped and put those under
to cool off. The noise and laughter grandchildren started arriving. silver trees with a color wheel, the tree, too. She didn’t have a lot
too. Another year, she sent my dad of money, but she so enjoyed doing
out to cut a branch for her, which this.
she covered with cotton and hung
ornaments from. My Grandmother passed away
in 1994. Aunt Shirley moved into
Knowing that she treasured her the house, and to this day, those of
collection of ornaments, I decided us who can make it still travel to
to make a set for her. I carefully the peanut shell in West Virginia
painted and lettered the names of on Christmas Eve. It seems like the
all the family members onto glass right thing to do.
balls and added a lot of glitter.
Gran loved them, and as the family Happy Holidays to all of you!
continued to grow, she’d remind Randy and I hope none of you find
coal in your stockings.
