Tradition!
With the year coming to a close, most of us at some point in the next few days will reflect upon the past year to remember the good and the bad (because there is always a little bit of both good and bad in each passing year). That in itself is somewhat of a personal tradition with each of us. Especially as I get older, I am mindful of traditions and what they mean to me and to each upcoming generation. Growing up I don't recall any certain traditions that my family had, but traditions come in various shapes and sizes. Tradition boils down to doing something because someone before you did it that way. As an example, when cleaning, my mother taught us to vacuum first and then dust, or when washing dishes the glasses always got washed first.....they are not meaningful traditions, but it is tradition nonetheless.
This coming Sunday, January 1, Richter's best friend will show up at the house with a certain special bottle of whiskey. There will be some small talk and visiting and then John will take the bottle out of its box. Richter will go over to the cabinet and get two shot glasses. John will meticulously pour the whiskey into the glasses and they will welcome the new year by downing the shots. The bottle will then be dutifully put back into the box until next year. That is tradition! We have a few traditions, and other than saying the same prayer before each meal while forming an unbroken link of holding hands, none of them have much meaning or significance, but they are tradition nonetheless. When the boys were still in school, from kindergarten to graduation, on the last day of each school year we would put in the Alice Cooper CD and blast as loud as we could, "School's Out." That is tradition! On the first day of each school year, their picture was taken in front of the same tree. That is tradition! On the first snow of each year, we make sure to have brats done out on the grill. That is tradition! On every birthday cake there is always one extra unlit candle that represents the "one to grow on." That is tradition! On Christmas eve everyone opens one present, but the rest have to wait until Christmas morning. That is tradition! The boys' Christmas stockings always contain beef jerky and gold chocolate coins. That is tradition! On Easter, and even at their ages of 23 and 20, we hide their baskets.
I believe we are all comforted by traditions. Traditions give us something to look forward to and also provide us with stories and times to remember. It would be interesting to learn of the different traditions of those who have read this blog and I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave a comment as to what some of your traditions are.
And as is tradition, I wish you each a Happy New Year! I hope you enjoy the clip from Fiddler on the Roof (one of my favorite movies!) ~ Love, Momma Richter
This coming Sunday, January 1, Richter's best friend will show up at the house with a certain special bottle of whiskey. There will be some small talk and visiting and then John will take the bottle out of its box. Richter will go over to the cabinet and get two shot glasses. John will meticulously pour the whiskey into the glasses and they will welcome the new year by downing the shots. The bottle will then be dutifully put back into the box until next year. That is tradition! We have a few traditions, and other than saying the same prayer before each meal while forming an unbroken link of holding hands, none of them have much meaning or significance, but they are tradition nonetheless. When the boys were still in school, from kindergarten to graduation, on the last day of each school year we would put in the Alice Cooper CD and blast as loud as we could, "School's Out." That is tradition! On the first day of each school year, their picture was taken in front of the same tree. That is tradition! On the first snow of each year, we make sure to have brats done out on the grill. That is tradition! On every birthday cake there is always one extra unlit candle that represents the "one to grow on." That is tradition! On Christmas eve everyone opens one present, but the rest have to wait until Christmas morning. That is tradition! The boys' Christmas stockings always contain beef jerky and gold chocolate coins. That is tradition! On Easter, and even at their ages of 23 and 20, we hide their baskets.
I believe we are all comforted by traditions. Traditions give us something to look forward to and also provide us with stories and times to remember. It would be interesting to learn of the different traditions of those who have read this blog and I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave a comment as to what some of your traditions are.
And as is tradition, I wish you each a Happy New Year! I hope you enjoy the clip from Fiddler on the Roof (one of my favorite movies!) ~ Love, Momma Richter
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