Ode to Christmases Past

As I sit here, eating my canned chicken noodle soup, I can't help but think of Christmases past. This is my first year to celebrate Christmas without my family. This is also the first year that my maternal grandparents haven't been alive.

When I was really young, we always celebrated Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Tilley's house. Grandma had her three-foot artificial tree with the weird little joker topper and the ornaments from Christmas, 1963.

All of the kids and grandkids (12 total+gma and gpa) came over on Christmas eve and slept on every available surface - couches, pallets on the floor, and beds.

There was ALWAYS a card game going on. Pitch was first middle and last, with games of Skip-bo, Dominos, and Rummy in between.

Grandma always had food ready to go. Breakfast included eggs, bacon, sausage, hash-browns, biscuits and gravy - the works! She was the best cook EVER!

Christmas dinner included the best ham I've ever tasted, fried "taters" and brown beans, casseroles, and possibly some greens for grandpa. The grownups sat at the kitchen table and the kids sat in the living room at card tables.

I was the youngest of the grandkids by about eight years, so I was spoiled rotten! I was always sitting on or near my grandma - when I wasn't playing cards on grandpa's team.

I'd like to think they're smiling down on me on this Christmas day, and hopefully, grandma can send me some of her good cooking tips. I'm cooking dinner for Brandon and our roommate Ty. It will be a non-traditional meal for a non-traditional Christmas.

I'm planning, ham with pineapple marinade, brandied apples and pears with fried sage leaves, cranberries with grapefruit and mint, twice baked potatoes, sugar snap peas with carrots, rolls, and (from the bakery) a yule log.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! I'll be thinking about you!