Christmas Eve

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It’s impossible to not think back about past Christmas Eve gatherings.

As a kid the anticipation of Christmas was tempered by that trip to Grandma and Grandpa Fuzzy’s home. When we passed through the door and made our way to Grandpa’s chair to give him a kiss, we all knew that we were going to have a great night and that we had finally made it to Christmas.

Grandma’s pizza was legendary, and I was partial to the anchovy slices. Even as a kid. 

It was an absolute madhouse!

Dad came from a big family too so the place was standing room only. Hugs and kisses and presents and pasta and pizza and fish and peppers and laughter.

I still hear that laughter.

Grandma and Grandpa Schryver were usually there as well, and Grandpa Schryver would join me at the anchovy pizza.

“Us Cliffs have to stick together.”

Grandpa Clifford said that thousands of times.

As adults the party shifted to the big house on the hill, and the kids made it magical. Mom and Dad bought thousands of dollars of gifts.

The food was outstanding as well as my brother-in-law Chucky nearly matched Grandma Fuzzy in pizza prep….

…he always made an anchovy one too.

We listened to Dean Martin and played games after all the presents were opened.

Damn, we laughed.

Grandma Schryver made a fruitcake one year and as we shot pool we worked it into the game. The losing team had to chug a beer and eat a hunk of fruitcake.

There was more laughter later in the night when Grandma innocently mentioned that she couldn’t believe that we had scarfed down the entire fruitcake.

As adults the Christmas Day parties shifted to my house with Kathy’s family. I was the cook and there’s nothing better than watching 50 people eat and eat and eat.

Plenty of laughs those days as well.

“I miss the days when we were young,” Kathy said.

And now?

The menu is planned, but there won’t be many people here. Covid has really changed lives these last two years.

The boys are older.

No grandkids yet.

Imagine a time machine…

…”Take me back to Christmas Eve in 1977, or 1997 or even 2018,” I might say, right off the bat.

Thing is, I did appreciate those days, those moments, those minutes and I’ll take a minute to raise a glass in memory and appreciation of all we’ve lost along the way.

And may you make some new memories over the next couple of days.

It’s what it’s all about.

Merry Christmas to all!

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