The holidays will not be ‘right’ this year for Sue Ann and her family. It will be the first year that Momma isn’t in charge. Momma will be a guest in their home instead of the other way around, as in years past. As in all of Sue Ann’s years past.
As she went about decorating and preparing gifts for the upcoming holiday, her mind was often wandering through history. Her own history. The Christmases past; the ones with her Momma at the head of the household and always directing anything the children were asked to do. The tree would be a very large scotch pine which Daddy would cut from a nearby farm and tie on his truck to bring home. It would stand floor to ceiling in it’s homemade stand and Momma would hand out the ornaments in the order they were to be hung as soon as Daddy got the lights on correctly. That would be correctly according to Momma. She liked things to be just perfect on her Christmas tree. Once the bulbs were all placed she would hand out the ‘special’ ornaments. The ones given as gifts over the years or handmade by one of the kids or even purchased at a family outing somewhere in years past. They were not bulbs, they were the treasured ornaments. Unwrapping each one from it’s tissue or newspaper and examining each for possible damage, then telling the story behind each as she handed it off to the one chosen to display that particular ornament and then indicating exactly where it was to be hung. You get the picture. It was a process, getting that tree decorated and it never changed year after year except the ‘special’ ornaments selection grew. Once finished, the tree looked spectacular. The envy of all who saw it standing 8′ tall in the windowed corner of the large farm house living room where passing cars could clearly see the lights it boasted.
As much as her Momma loved the tree, Christmas dinner was even more of a ceremony. Momma did all the cooking until her daughters were teenagers. Each was invited to help out when she reached 13 years of age. At that age, Momma reasoned, a girl should start to understand how to put a decent meal on the table. There would always be turkey, ham, cranberries, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, salad and of course, the famous Christmas cake. Momma made that first thing Christmas morning. It was a beautiful 4 layer square cake. Outside it was covered with the lightest and fluffiest frosting anyone ever tasted! It would have both red and green sugar sprinkles all over the top. Inside though, that’s the best part. One layer would be chocolate and this would be the top of the cake. The next layer would be white and topped with a raspberry filling so creamy it was irresistible. The third layer was a deep dark red velvet layer and only the best and richest cream cheese frosting could top that one. The bottom layer, the foundation layer, would be peanut butter cake and I bet you guessed it already, it would be topped with the sweetest peanut butter and sugar frosting. Besides being the tallest cake Momma ever baked, it was the most time consuming. It would take over 3 hours just to make this beautiful cake and she never made it a day ahead, as everyone told her she should, because then it wouldn’t be a Christmas Cake! Sue Ann’s Momma had her own ways, for sure.
The smells in the house were intoxicating from 10 a.m. until dinner was served around 6 p.m. Once that cake was in the oven, the real preparation began. The girls were then put to work peeling potatoes or chopping dried bread, onions, celery or any other task their Momma thought they could handle. She passed out assignments like the head chef at a fancy New York restaurant! The kitchen was a flurry of activity all day long. Something would be baking or roasting or boiling or being assembled by someone until at long last, it would be time to set the table.
The table would be covered with the Christmas table cloth. The white lace one used only on this day. The china would be set in a casual manner because Momma loved the china, but was not fond of a formal setting. Too much table was used up with glasses and silverware and extra plates. She needed the table space for food. There would be a table full of food when the family sat to pray and then indulge. Everyone helped set the table and everyone helped clear the table following the meal. Everyone except Momma. When she finished eating, Momma would retire to the living room and gaze at her beautiful tree while listening to her beautiful family clearing and cleaning up after the perfectly divine meal she had just provided. She would sip her coffee with her feet resting on her foot stool, eyes on the tree and her head just full of all the laughter and noise coming from her kitchen. This was her Christmas gift from her family. This peace and rest after a very long, hard day of cooking and preparing to serve her family love in the form of traditional Christmas dining.
When all the clean-up was finished, the Cake would be served to Momma, Daddy and then the kids would each serve themselves. The perfect ending.
Sue Ann will have all these traditions to perform this year and she is determined to make it happen just like her Momma always did. She has just married in the last year and she and her new husband will host the family dinner. Momma just cannot do this anymore. At 75 years young, Momma doesn’t think she can do a Christmas dinner justice and it must be done correctly or not at all. She is so proud that Sue Ann and Denny have offered to host in their big country home. There will be room for all 5 of the siblings and their families and Momma will just have to show up and enjoy. Sue Ann feels her Momma has earned this day and it will be as close to all the previous Christmases as she can possibly make it.
Denny has helped with all the food prep and even helped set the table. It looks lovely and the house smells like Christmas.
The first guest to arrive is Sue Ann’s next youngest sister, Sarah and her family. Sarah has arrived early to help with the last minute things. They will be doing what they have always done except it will be just the two of them from now on and the others will be guests. It all goes well. The food is done on time and everyone enjoys themselves and the food. Momma and Daddy are so happy to have everyone around them on this wintry day and both look content.
When dinner is over, everyone tells Sue Ann to please go sit in the living room with Momma and Daddy while they clear and serve the Christmas Cake. The peace and rest with Momma and Daddy is Sue Ann’s gift from her family for all her hard work to keep this tradition alive.
The cake is served and devoured and Sue Ann has done her Momma proud.
The circle of life continues. The torch is passed.