This Christmas was probably one of the best Christmas' for our family. We got bogged down with all the normal junk. Having to attend the obligatory parties and performances. Fighting the traffic to get to the mall. Not that we didn't enjoy some of these activities but many times we have to do these things out of obligation not a desire to spend time at the event. This year we didn't wait for the grandparents to start opening the gifts. This year we didn't take the traditional picture of the tree with all the gifts under it. This year my wife and I didn't buy each other gifts. I am not telling you this for you to feel sorry for us or to take pity on us. Our decision had nothing to do with finances or the economy. It wasn't because we were having marital problems. Quite the opposite. We decided to focus on what was important to us and to use the time that we would have spent shopping with each other. We didn't take a picture of the tree with the presents because what kind of message are we preserving for our children? When we look at that picture would we remember it as the year we spent time with a mother whose son and father were working out of state a thousand miles from home? Or would they remember it as the year the presents over took the tree?
As mentioned we took dinner to a friend who was home alone. We went bowling! Our son who is quickly growing up had a blast. We laughed and played around. We learned how to curve the ball. Couldn't hit a pin but it sure looks cool. We had cheap bowling alley pizza for dinner. On the way home we didn't discuss how cool their toys were. we talked about how much fun we had. The thing I will always remember about Christmas '08 is on the way home that starry night is Connor telling us that it was his favorite Christmas because we spent time just playing together. I think we may have accidently started a new tradition.
