When I was younger, my family and my Dad’s side of the family would alternate between whose houses we would spend Christmas at, for the holidays. It was between my Aunt Audrey, Aunt Sonia, and me and my family. We would bring food over, and they would bring it to ours when it was our turn. It was like an exchange. When we’d be going over to theirs, my brother and I’s Christmas presents would be in the back of the trunk, as we drove to one of their places. 

There would be a trash bag for all the wrapping paper that was discarded on the floor to collect. I could just remember the crumbling of the wrapping paper. 

One time at my Aunt Audrey’s, we played a fun game of charades. Everybody was laughing, acting out, and having a great time. Around then, those were the good times that all our families shared at one point together. There was this onion dip that one of my cousins would make, and we would eat it with wavy chips. It was a very delicious snack, and I remember it tasting so good. However, there would be a small part of me and my brother and how we opened our gifts as our cousins watched us which we did not like but, we ignored the feeling since we were young. As times changed, having our first Christmas with just our family felt more relaxing and set us more at ease. 

We did not have to deal with or feel bad for opening our presents and getting plenty of gifts from mom and pop. We ate away since my mom knows how to throw down the kitchen and cook. She always makes her famous cornbread recipe. The kitchen is usually hot while she is cooking away due to the oven being on. The Christmas tree would be littered with ornaments and tinsel with lights and for sure a star on the way to the top glowing brightly. That Christmas, everything felt better. I would wake up my parents and wish them a Merry Christmas. I would always be the one up early, ready to open presents. Wanting to see what I got. I didn’t really believe in Santa Claus and knew it was my parents the whole time. It didn’t really shock me at all. I remember me waking up in the middle of the night to see my Mom wrapping presents and my brother talking to her while she did so. That was the deal breaker for me. 

As we got older, being at each other’s houses wasn’t a huge priority anymore. Now, Recently my job is to throw up a small white Christmas tree, with beautiful lights, and wrap the red cover around the bottom for the presents to lay. From what I realize and from what I am reflecting on as you get older things to change, and traditions really do change. It sometimes feels like things are going to stay the same forever but, little do you know that change was on the other side of the door, waiting to play its role.