December 21, 2007

Christmas Supplement

Family’s Christmas dinner continues late into the night

By Hilda L. Buck (Special to The Criterion)

Our family is scattered all over the country so when we get together at special times we really enjoy being with each other and getting caught up on all the news.

One such time was Christmas a few years ago. We all went to midnight Mass then the next morning slept a little later than usual. There were no believers in Santa by then.

So many gifts were under the tree that we decided to open them in shifts. We had brunch then opened a few brightly decorated boxes, and had time to “Oooh” and “Aaah” and enjoy what we received.

Then there were snacks along with more gifts and socializing.

Finally, when it was time to put the finishing touches to the dinner scheduled for 6 p.m., we realized that no one had remembered to put the turkey in the oven hours before!

What would we do?

We did what any “normal” family would do. We put the turkey in the oven. We are a pretty laid-back group so it was no problem to wait for dinner.

Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday dinner at 10 p.m. on Christmas night, maybe more so because—with the tantalizing aroma filling the house and the snack foods giving way to actual hunger—we were ready for a festive meal.

(Hilda L. Buck is a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Lawrenceburg.) †

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