Remembering Christmas past

I remember my Mom and I baking buckets of a variety of cookies only to see them locked up so I couldn’t sneak any while she was at work. I was a little stinker..

I remember silver tinsel that was a pain in the behind to be put on the tree and to take off. I was so happy when my Mom finally decided to “upgrade” and get rid of it.

I remember real candles in the clip on candle holders on the tree, then came the big huge colored bulbs.

I remember looking for the right tree during the day, marking it, and returning at night to cut it and dragging it home. Funny, during day light the tree looked really good, but when we got it home it was either too tall or crooked or missed branches.

Christmas church service on Christmas eve. Playing Maria every year. It may have been the role to get, but it never had many lines.

Getting tipsy with Gluehwein, while shopping for the items on the grocery list. Mind you I was a minor and kept telling the Lady it was for my Mom. My Mom found out and was not a happy camper.

Advent calendars. Opening all the windows and eating the chocolate and closing the windows again, so it wasn’t noticed that the chocolate was gone.

Making ornaments in school, to be hung on the tree. And getting to pick that special spot for it.

Getting the yearly underwear, undershirt and socks present. I must have wished for that every year, just didn’t know it.

Getting candies, cookies and little presents from neighbors.

Listening to my Mom sing or hum to Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley and the Berlin Choir boys, while she was wrapping presents.

Watching ” A Christmas Carol” every year. Still a tradition here at my home.

Family visits with my aunt and uncle and cousins.  Wonderful feasts and treats to keep you filled for days.

These are just a few memories of mine. And this Christmas I hope you remember some of yours and make some new ones. Merry Christmas everyone !

Everyones believes a different way..

You know after a Holiday weekend, when you return back to your work, people will talk about what they did over the weekend and things. So I was talking about my weekend and one of my co-workers, who is also a very devoted Christian asked me where I enjoyed my Easter church service. I answered that I had it at home, that I had a one on one with the almighty there.

Oh brother I am not sure what went off, but she gave me this look, like she was going to get the holy book from the back pocket and fling it at me. She continued to ask me how come I didn’t go to church, if I belonged to a Congregation or if I even was a Christian.

I answered her that I was a Protestant, that no I did not belong to a Congregation and that many, many eons ago my Pastor back home in Germany said to me, that you could be anywhere in the world and God will hear you, you don’t have to be in a Church to pray or talk to him.

My co-worker just didn’t think it was a  dignified answer and decided later to hand me a Brochure about her church, which I politely accepted and said Thank you, when she also let this remark loose: ” You need to get back to Church, and also get a refresher course of the Bible to get you back on track.”

I looked at her and handed her the brochure back and said to her ” Well now that you put it that way, I also remember the other reason why I do not belong to a Church” and walked away. Needless to say we did not continue talking about this issue, especially since I had to leave work to go somewhere.

Back in Germany I went to Church, I was a youth leader and very involved in Church activities. And there was a part of me that wanted to have this also here in the States when I got here. We checked out a few churches and talked to the Clergy but it just did not seem right with the most of them and then when we were asked to have a baptism to their faith, I lost it. Why would it make any difference what I am? Does it quarantee me a front seat on the train ride to heaven if I switch from a Protestant to a Baptist? Does it bring me a few steps closer to the Almighty because I changed to Presbyterian? Don’t think it works that way.

But what I do think works is, that it doesn’t matter what you believe in, be it in christianity, jewdism, hinduism, buddhism or islam, as long as you are a Person that is good and kind, gentle and treats other people with respect, you will be rewarded during your stay here and on the other side. Now if you do it wrong, you get to turn right back around when you arrive at the pearly gates and do it all over again till you get it right. And once you get it right you get to stay there and eat large amounts of Spaghetti without gaining weight.

I have no problem with going to a service, heck I even take in a catholic Service every 5 years or so, and that is no small feat for a Protestant. But I like my way better, it may not work for others but it is just fine by me.

So let’s agree on something, you do it your way, I’ll do it my way. We both will be happy and you don’t have to go to confession for arguing with me.