Tradition

Christmas Eve dinner was the big tradition in our family.  Every year my mom would spend a couple of weeks baking cookies and making candies.  She would make a huge dinner, two or three different meats, potatoes, salads, veggies, bread, etc.  All my dad's side of the family would come on Christmas Eve for the dinner and presents.  This happened every year for as far back as I can remember.  Eventually, my grandmother died, then my two uncles died.  Now it was down to my aunt and uncle, my siblings, and my parents. About 15 years ago, my mom decided she was tired of cooking and when we showed up for Christmas, she had bought a Subway party sub and about 10 liters of Coke.  What a shock! She had said she was going to do this, but we all thought she was kidding.  So, that is how our tradition ended.  I moved to Seattle in 1995 and haven't made it back for a Christmas since than.  My sister has taken over and she tries to cook, from what I hear.  Here in Everett, I have become the one who cooks. We have Christmas and Thanksgiving at our house every year.  I don't have any family here, so my husband's family all come over (no one in his family can cook).  It's kind of fun, but I now have a new appreciation for the time and effort, and the money, my mom put into the meal.