Christmas Traditions -- Koz Style

As my family ages, I find we are collectively less interested in opening gifts, and more focused on the true meaning of Christmas. Gathering as a family, now that we are suffering family loss as well as scattering across our country, carries the anticipation that pretty wrapped presents once held.

Years ago Ray's side of our family decided instead of buying a gift for each one of us, we would pick a name from a bowl to buy for. We did this traditionally at Thanksgiving. Each of us would write 3 items on a small piece of paper, fold it and put into a bowl. Whoever we picked, we bought for. Sounds simple, right?

Marlene sets up the feast

Marlene, oldest sister, was our token left-handed family member, and her fast-talking, hummingbird-like personality created some of our family's best loved, best cherished memories. Yep. She chose her own name from the bowl...and kept it. Decided she didn't need anything, so why bother? Love that! Marlene passed into God's hands at Easter 2004, but her spirit is still strong within our family.

One year the idea of a gag gift exchange entered our family. Gary had us all wrap something from around the house...white elephant type stuff...in newspaper. Then we picked a card from a deck, and Gary -- our family Game Show Host personality -- chose from the deck the identical cards to decide who would pick in what order. Thing was, he called out the cards a second...sometimes a third time in order to give us a chance to take away a gift from someone who had chosen before us. Then, when we'd exhausted the exchange, we opened in order.