During this time of year, when many of us are running around trying to get things done, rushing from one obligation to another, wrapping, unwrapping, baking, calling, driving, mailing, the list is endless...it's easy to forget what Christmas is really all about.
Yesterday, I had a reminder of true holiday spirit.
In the complex where live, we have five neighboring families. Each year, at Christmas, it's a tradition that each family gives a small token to all the neighbors, usually an edible treat. Given my current kitchenless state, I was unsure as to how I would keep up with the tradition without having to give a storebought gift. My Dad offered his kitchen, which I did try to use but all my supplies were boxed up and his oven temperature turned out to be difficult to regulate so my efforts failed.
I shared my dilemma with my sister, Michelle, and confessed I'd probably have to either buy something or skip the tradition altogether. She then offered to bake some treats for me to give, if she had time on Christmas day. I thanked her and was grateful for the gesture, but knowing how much we still had to do I doubted she would have the time or the energy.
On Christmas morning, I came downstairs to make coffee and serve some gingerbread for breakfast, another tradition that Michelle and I keep up every year. The phone rang, and it was Michelle calling not only to say Merry Christmas, but also to let me know that my neighbors' treats were in the oven and that she would bring them to me when we would meet up at my inlaws' place later in the day.
Michelle woke up early on Christmas morning after having hosted all of us until the wee hours at her apartment for Christmas Eve (we trashed the place!), to bake treats for my neighbors so I wouldn't have to worry about breaking the tradition. When she gave me the cakes, they were beautifully packaged with ribbon and cards already written out.
Aww, thanks for the post! You would have done the same for me!!! Merry Christmas nena, I love you!!
Posted by: Michelle | December 28, 2008 at 09:49 PM
This is what sisters and friends are for! Qué felicidad Heidi, tener en tu vida gente que te quiere de verdad. Eso es priceless!!!!!
BTW, el libro Eat, Pray, Love me lo devoré. Es lindo!!!!!!!
Have a beautiful year!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Indra | January 02, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Me sigue gustando mucho lo de Dulce Divas....
Un feliz año para ti Heidi querida y para todos los seguidores de tu blog.
Posted by: Kalen | January 04, 2009 at 11:16 PM
That was a beautiful token on Michelle's part. So...maybe your kitchen will be done in plenty of time for us to christen it in April.
Posted by: Eric | January 12, 2009 at 09:00 PM
Esa es mi ex-fula, carajo!
BTW, Dis, ni te vi. Será para la próxima vuelta.
Posted by: Iván | January 13, 2009 at 03:14 PM