Christmas Eve was takeout fried fish, garlic on toothpicks,
and presents opened on our grandparents' hardwood floors.
We looked for red lights in the sky on the drive home,
trying to spot Santa's sleigh with Rudolph leading his journey.
In stubbornly unzipped coats, we scurried up snowy stairs and
through the back door to the kitchen to prepare our offering.
One by one, we carefully selected cookies to leave by the tree,
sharing our favorites after days of watching them bake,
snagging them from their cooling racks as taste-testers.
Crumbs and full stockings would be left by morning.
Looking back, I can't recall a single gift opened
as Mom took pictures between sips of coffee,
but I remember my sisters hoarding the prettiest bows
and the wrapping paper wars that followed.



Comments (3)
Ah, the perfect snapshot of Christmas magic! Forget the gifts—it's all about fried fish, Rudolph hunts, cookie sneaks, and epic bow battles. Nostalgia done right, wrapped in the prettiest paper and sprinkled with love.🤗
It's touching how the poem emphasizes that while specific gifts may fade from memory, the feelings of love, fun, and togetherness are what truly endure. A lovely reminder that the most cherished memories are often found in the simple, shared experiences of family traditions.
We carefully selected cookies to leave by the tree. I never did that much, perhaps I was too afraid it would attract bugs. Aw the memories of Christmas's past. They are wonderful to recall. Well Done!!!!