While much is the same, some customs and traditions in Austria are different. Christmas at home was special. I have so many great memories. What an amazing childhood I had. I was fortunate to spend twelve wonderful years with my Grandma on our farm, and now looking back, I could fill books with stories and anecdotes.
Every year in November I drive to the Christmas warehouse and I make sure that the trees, wreaths and Christmas decorations are ready for pickup.
A storage facility full of decorated Christmas trees, carefully wrapped in plastic, just waiting to show their artificial beauty in the malls and stores through the Holiday Season. I have the key to one of the warehouses and I am responsible for about 50 trees.
There was a time in our lives when we didn’t have too much money. To be honest, we didn’t have any and hardly made it. We were forced to start all over new, and so we moved with our dogs and everything an SUV could hold across the country. It was a move we couldn’t afford, many things were left behind.
What is your favorite holiday?
I am agnostic, I have no beliefs or none-beliefs, but I like to watch people when they enjoy a time that is special to them. People are kinder during the Holiday Season, especially around Christmas and Hannukah.
As the legend goes, several centuries ago in Ireland, there lived a drunk who was known as “Stingy Jack.” Nobody liked him, he cheated, he lied, and he played tricks on people. One night the Devil overheard the tale of Jack’s evil deeds. Unconvinced and envious of the rumors, the devil went to find out for himself, whether or not Jack lived up to his mean reputation.
Of course I woke up early on Christmas Day; I always do when I promise myself to sleep in. When my feet touch the ground, that’s the signal for our four-legged family members to get up as well. We all had to use the bathroom (not together) and I decided to go for a short morning walk.
I hated Thanksgiving for so many years. It was my nightmare Holiday and I was always glad when it was over. Thanksgiving is a cruel Holiday when you don’t have family left; it makes you feel like an outsider looking in.
I would like to eliminate the word “African American” forever. Go away word, you are not needed anymore. We are all Americans; it’s as simple as that.