The Ghosts of Christmases Past

It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Indeed, it is the busiest time of the year. With all of the parties, the shopping, and the traveling, life may be pushed to the way-side and momentarily forgotten about. Some of us do this intentionally because it’s easier and less stressful; others of us may do this unintentionally while every now and again getting a glimpse of the moment in which we are currently living. Whatever path one chooses, it is refreshing to be able to take a few minutes, or hours even, to reflect on life, the course of the past year, the outcomes of certain situations, etc.

For me today, I am choosing to reflect on those past Christmases that will always be so vivid and full of life in my memories. From the one I spent away from everything and everyone who was comfortable for me to the twenty-seven other years full of love, happiness, and joy that have been spent with the four people I love the most while adding several others along the way. Today, I want to cheers the memories, the laughter, the love, and the people that have made each and every holiday season special in its own way.

For the first eighteen Christmases of my young life, each was spent exactly like the previous one. Starting on the day after Thanksgiving and all the way up to the New Year, we embraced and rejoiced the traditions of our Ritter Family and our Christian beliefs. My parents, brother, sister, and I would constantly play Christmas music while spending time together baking Christmas cookies, fudge, and caramel corn, hanging Christmas lights, going to the Christmas Tree Farm to pick out “our tree” while sipping hot apple cider, decorating the tree with homemade ornaments, tinsel, and popcorn garland and the house with garland and an always-growing Christmas village on top of the entertainment center, attend church and watch the nativity candle be lit each Sunday while we prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s birth, and laugh and love each other with every ounce of our hearts in each second that passed. On Christmas Eve we would attend church as a family and then go home and wildly open the one present from my mom’s cousin, Carol, because the three of us pestered mom and dad until they finally gave in. From there, we’d enjoy a glass of eggnog in front of the wood-burning fire in our living room, and then head to bed and wait for Santa to arrive. And like clock-work every morning on December 25th, our little sister would awake earlier than the sun and make sure the rest of us did as well. We would all rush to the living room (some of us quicker than others because, even at a young age, I appreciated the meaning of “beauty rest” and was fully aware that the presents would not disappear if we slept in a little longer), admire the gifts under our beautiful tree, and begin opening our stockings (my favorite part!!). From there, we would take turns opening our gifts, appreciating everything we were blessed with and sharing those happy moments together as a family. After the gifts were opened, we would gather around the table for breakfast (always egg casserole, muffins, juice) while Christmas music serenaded us in the background. The rest of the day would be spent together, playing with our toys, putting together the pieces of whatever gifts needed assembling while enjoying great food and great company. The best day of the year without fail or competition. Always.

Along the way, one of us would welcome another into our family’s traditions, never taking away from the five of us, only adding more laughter and cheer. My sister-in-law was welcomed at Christmas 1996 and has been there every year since. From Christmas 2002 to Christmas 2008, Michael was the part of the family that we never knew was missing but only added that much more to the already perfect celebration that existed in our lives. He and I would celebrate every Christmas Eve by going to church with MeeMa and Pappy and then continue the celebration with our Aunt, Uncle, and cousins in Bellevue. Those Christmases, although long and busy with all of the traveling between Mt. Juliet and Dickson (where we celebrated with my family and with his each and every year without fail) will always hold a special part in my heart. Others came and went throughout the years, including five precious children who will someday look back and appreciate all of these memories with our family as well, and then finally my brother-in-law was introduced to our family in 2007. Since then, if I am not mistaken, he has been able to spend two Christmases with us between his deployments, and we are blessed that he will be with us again this year.

Last year was by far the hardest Christmas for my family (or for me at least). I spent Christmas apart from the four people who have always been a constant on that day. While they were enjoying the day together with the children and in-laws, I was alone in my newly-found Colorado home. On Christmas Eve I worked for the first time ever. After work I went over to a friend’s family Christmas to watch their family traditions unfold. Although it was tough, it was better than being entirely alone. That night she stayed with me at my apartment, and we had a slumber party in the living room. I opened the gifts from my family (who did everything in their power to make sure I felt the love I always had on this day) that had been patiently waiting under my very own tree.  The next morning, I was invited to a friend of a friend’s family Christmas. The friend, Josh, and I had met only once. The night before Christmas, he found out from our friend that I was going to be spending the day alone. He called his mom, and they insisted on inviting me to spend the day with them in their church and their home. Although I had never met these people, spending the day with a family was nice. At moments the tears were uncontrollable, but for the most part I embraced the experience I was given and tried to enjoy the day as much as possible. It was nice to be welcomed into a loving home and experience the love and joy that I had always felt from my family’s traditions.  At his church the congregation welcomed me with open arms and hugged me when they knew I needed it the most. At his house, I was able to Skype with my family as they opened the gifts I had sent to them. Then we spent the day watching football and Christmas movies, playing games, and eating dinner before attending church again that night. It was exactly what I needed if I could not be home with my family, and for that I will forever be grateful to Josh and his family.

Now with Christmas only two weeks away, I am anxiously awaiting the reunion with my family. The only thing I have wanted to happen this year will finally happen on December 25^th. I will awake with a smile on my face for several reasons: the celebration of Jesus’s birth, the laughter from my sweet nephews and nieces as they open their gifts, the gathering of the people I love the most, and the good food and cheer that will be waiting for us. I will hug my family members tighter than ever before. I will cry; I will laugh; I will love. I am sure to appreciate this day more than I have ever before. I will be grateful for each and every second we have together without hesitation.

Here’s to making this the best Christmas EVER.