Christmas Traditions
Unreal. That's the word that comes to mind when reflecting back on 2024, but especially the Christmas season in Florida. I received an unexpected and beautiful Christmas letter from my daughter across the country. The words that struck me the most were about her family tradition memories growing up. Some of the delicious cookies we used to make included a German recipe passed down from my Mom. Two cookies pressed together, held together by a thin layer of cherry jam and topped off with homemade frosting. It was a torturous process that I always dreaded, but because the end result was too delicious, I endured the work. But in all honesty, the memories it brought back of my childhood in Germany and my childhood home were equally important. One tradition that I created was to go on evening drives in random neighborhoods to find the prettiest light spectacles to take in. The kids sitting in the backseat, chattering, laughing, and Christmas music playing on the radio. It felt goo...