Christmas Eve

Christmas is so interesting. For some it is a deeply religious event, and for others more light hearted and a time of celebration of the season.  

Most everyone has some tradition that is important whether it be cutting down a real tree, making gifts, writing a Christmas Ode, attending church, calling a friend or relative who is far away, watching it snow, driving a distance to join family for the day, or maybe even spending the day watching football.  Like many things, I believe to each their own.  

It never bothers me to be home on Christmas, and this has happened more than once when the roads were slick.  For some, this would be devastating.  As a little girl, the Christmas traditions did include going along for the cutting down a real tree, hauling back from the woods and then the adults took care of putting it up in the house & the decorating.  There was also church in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, and then the evening meal was shared at my Grandparents house who lived across the road.  At their house, we would dance around the Christmas tree that was always placed in the center of the room.

Joining hands around the tree, we would sing the Danish traditional song and "dance" in a circle, 

this is one version:

Nu har vi jul igen, 

og nu har vi jul igen, 

og julen varer ved til påske. 

Nu har vi jul igen, 

og nu har vi jul igen, 

og julen varer ved til påske.

Roughly translated:

Now it's Christmas time,
And now it's Christmas time,
And holidays will last 'til Easter.

Now it's Christmas time,
And now it's Christmas time,

And holidays will last 'til Easter.

Grandfather Ansgar, Grandmother Frederikke, Wanda and brother Ralph by their Christmas Tree.

After dinner, we went home to find what Santa had left and had much fun opening presents.  Even in hard times, Mom managed to fill the tree with gifts.

Sister Laila, Brother Glenn, Wanda and Brother Ralph

Most years our family would travel to Minneapolis to my maternal grandparents house to spend Christmas Day.  We would see our Bjornton cousins and grandparents.  

It was a long drive for a kid and I remember secretly wishing we could stay home in our jammies and play with our new toys.  But, it was fun and my grandparents had a pretty tree and yummy dinner.

As families grow, it's hard to keep the same family traditions and it becomes time to start each generation to find their definition of Christmas.  I've seen our family change and it's nice to see how each family chooses to spend their Christmas Eve and Day.  For me, Christmas Eve was the time for gifts, in fact, I just opened one before sitting down to write this note.  For many, and for some of the Johansens, that all happens on Christmas morning.

We never had Christmas Stockings, maybe because we didn't have a fireplace, but I'm not sure that was such a common deal back when I was a kid.  Now, having matching stockings for the family is one tradition that I see often.  Even I have a stocking now, and one for the cats too, of course.

For my Christmas, tradition is having my Alpine Village set up in front of the living room window, the stockings are hung aside the fireplace, and my little tree is lit whenever I am home.  I hang a large wreath on the side of the garage meant to cheer travelers, and I feed the birds, squirrels and other critters.  I'll be at church on Christmas Eve at West Denmark where the service is music and the church is filled with cousins and friends from my youth as well as many memories.  

After church, the family will gather at Kyle & Heather's house, a tradition for many years now and always a fun filled and slightly chaotic evening, often including a visit from Santa Claus.  

I'll plan to come home, 

but will carry an overnight back just in case the roads are bad or the night gets long.

Christmas Day will be spent quietly here at home with music and reading of all of my Christmas cards.  This is my newest tradition and one that I do enjoy.

Whatever you decide to do this Christmas, I hope it brings you peace.

Ode to 2017

It’s time for the ode, what do I say, how do I start?

How do I recap 2017 and sound really smart?

Just sit down and type is what I decided might work,

At least a few lines somewhere in my mind might lurk.

As most years go, with ups, downs and in-betweens,

2017 was no different when I think back on the scenes.

Basketball kept me busy for those cold months of winter,

I spent at least 1696 game-minutes on the bleachers; not even one splinter.

My friend Janice and I were a good traveling team, “The GoJos”,

Racking up 4018 miles to see 51 games, missing only a couple due to snows.

I love the Luck Cardinals, Spring Valley Cardinals and the Baldwins BlackHawks,

Who needs NBA and college ball when these kids are on the clocks.

A mostly cool and wet summer was good for my plants and flowers,

Mother nature took care of the watering for me with her many showers.

Water can be good… and bad, as I found out first hand,

A new pump for the well and replacement water heater were totally unplanned.

Involvement in community seems right to do, and gets me out of the house,

Helping a man with reading, serving on the library board, & treasurer for the seniors, of course.

I aim to think globally and act locally in my involvement choices,

And on social media I add my name to other like-minded voices.

I keep up on national news and politically, I am mostly aware,

But to start a rant here, in a one-sided chat, that just wouldn’t be fair.

My leftwing bias is for equality, fairness, decency, respect with kindness as a goal,

But take a deep breath, I’m not going to go down that political rabbit hole.

Adding more perennials to the yard and ditch was fun, I found,

Peony bushes, cone flowers, grasses and more daffodil bulbs are now in the ground.

Most weeks are routine with my calendar full of things to get done,

Bridge, piano lessons, and the occasional quilt camp or visitor, makes my life fun.

I love my Packers and those Wisconsin Badgers and I watch whenever I can,

I continue to follow my Denver Broncos, and feel badly for all my pals who are fans.

Another layer of branches on the family tree has started to fill,

New babies this year are Lucy and Dakota, great-greats, if you will.

I love to see the kids whenever I can, not always easy with this busy troupe.

So I am thankful that social media photo sharing keeps me in the loop.

Our fall leaves seemed to change and fall in a blink,

And right into cold weather Mother Nature did slink.

Now I’m back to basketball again, but this time traveling solo,

Losing my friend Janice so suddenly was a real low blow.

But I’m still trekking around, racking up the miles and enjoying the games,

Janice is with me in spirit, but I miss her just the same.

I see I went on and on, even though I was going to make this a one pager this year,

And after all that talk, really there is only one thing I want to make clear.

I’m thankful for your friendship, your letters and your cards,

I only want to send back to you my very best regards.

I hope you find joy in your holiday celebrations

and carry that joy in your heart into the New Year!

If you read all the way to the bottom of this post, I thank you.
But seriously, don't you have something better to do?
It's Christmas!