Merry Christmas Jazzfanz
- Thread starter Revolution 9
- Start date
Merry Christmas everyone! Hope it was a good one for you and your family. And now, Happy Boxing Day 
and this will sound cheesy, but the best Christmas gift I received was having my family together. And other than cash, the best gift I gave to folks was the beef brisket I cooked, it was SOOOO good - I'd never served it at Christmas and hadn't made one in a few years, but I think I've found a new family Christmas tradition.
and this will sound cheesy, but the best Christmas gift I received was having my family together. And other than cash, the best gift I gave to folks was the beef brisket I cooked, it was SOOOO good - I'd never served it at Christmas and hadn't made one in a few years, but I think I've found a new family Christmas tradition.
Merry Christmas everyone! Hope it was a good one for you and your family. And now, Happy Boxing Day
and this will sound cheesy, but the best Christmas gift I received was having my family together. And other than cash, the best gift I gave to folks was the beef brisket I cooked, it was SOOOO good - I'd never served it at Christmas and hadn't made one in a few years, but I think I've found a new family Christmas tradition.
Mmmmm, I love brisket. I dated this Jewish girl who's grandma made the best brisket.
The whole gift thing is completely and utterly overrated. Sadly it took me 43 years to figure this out.
I let everyone know this year that there was no pressure and if they needed to spend their money elsewhere I was fine with receiving nothing. Guess what? I received exactly one gift... from my 22 year old daughter. A set of specially designed beer glasses which bring out the specific qualities of varying beers. She and I spent Christmas night tasting beers and talking until midnight. Honestly, one of the better Christmas days that I ever had. And truthfully, it had nothing to do with the gift.
Christmas eve was great as well. It was spent with all my kids (including 2 foster kids that lived with us for several months), my brother and his 2 kids and my oldest daughter's boyfriend. All we did was eat, talk, laugh and have a ball until 1 AM. Not a single gift was exchanged. Best Christmas Eve ever, hands down.
As far as what I gave? For some of my closest neighbors, I shoveled their driveway and walk during the past 2 snow storms. I helped the elderly couple next door cut down a 30+ year old tree that was threatening to crash through their roof if it snowed again. My family, I spent time with each person doing what they wanted like wacthing numerous hours of my daughter's favorite show with her, helping my other daughter sew blankets for several of her friends, etc. Basically, spending quality time with those that mattered. Time spent with others making them happy was/is the best gift I have ever given.
I would encourage everyone to forgo the whole gift thing next year and concentrate on nothing more than spending quality time with loved ones and friends. It will take a certain amount of effort on your part to discern what best to do with each person but I think most of us know already. Spending quality time with a loved one will be remembered forever. Seriously, can you even remember what you gave everyone last year? Can you remember what you received? Me, I'll remember this year's Christmas for the rest of my life and I didn't buy or receive anything of monetary value. I feel better about this Christmas than any I can remember. Hopefully those that I spent time with feel the same way.
I let everyone know this year that there was no pressure and if they needed to spend their money elsewhere I was fine with receiving nothing. Guess what? I received exactly one gift... from my 22 year old daughter. A set of specially designed beer glasses which bring out the specific qualities of varying beers. She and I spent Christmas night tasting beers and talking until midnight. Honestly, one of the better Christmas days that I ever had. And truthfully, it had nothing to do with the gift.
Christmas eve was great as well. It was spent with all my kids (including 2 foster kids that lived with us for several months), my brother and his 2 kids and my oldest daughter's boyfriend. All we did was eat, talk, laugh and have a ball until 1 AM. Not a single gift was exchanged. Best Christmas Eve ever, hands down.
As far as what I gave? For some of my closest neighbors, I shoveled their driveway and walk during the past 2 snow storms. I helped the elderly couple next door cut down a 30+ year old tree that was threatening to crash through their roof if it snowed again. My family, I spent time with each person doing what they wanted like wacthing numerous hours of my daughter's favorite show with her, helping my other daughter sew blankets for several of her friends, etc. Basically, spending quality time with those that mattered. Time spent with others making them happy was/is the best gift I have ever given.
I would encourage everyone to forgo the whole gift thing next year and concentrate on nothing more than spending quality time with loved ones and friends. It will take a certain amount of effort on your part to discern what best to do with each person but I think most of us know already. Spending quality time with a loved one will be remembered forever. Seriously, can you even remember what you gave everyone last year? Can you remember what you received? Me, I'll remember this year's Christmas for the rest of my life and I didn't buy or receive anything of monetary value. I feel better about this Christmas than any I can remember. Hopefully those that I spent time with feel the same way.