As a kid, the holidays were my favorite time of year. Every Thanksgiving, I eagerly arose to watch the Macy’s parade, help my mom bake pies, and answer the phone by saying, “Happy Turkey Day!” Our home was the gathering place for friends and family, and I loved the anticipation of waiting for everyone to arrive. Then, as soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers were stored away in Tupperware containers, it was officially Christmas in my mind. Lite 98 (now known as MIX 98.1) would begin playing non-stop holiday songs on the radio, and I would begin making my wish list, decorating our tree, and planning what to buy for family and friends with my very limited budget as a 10-year-old. I thought it truly was the most wonderful time of the year.
I still enjoy gathering with family and friends and decorating for the season, but I’d be lying if I said I still feel the same holiday magic I did as a child. Things are more complicated now – my parents have since divorced, I’m marrying into a blended family, and a lot of travel is required to see everyone. As soon as November rolls around, I begin thinking about the logistics. Who will I see on which holiday? When can I schedule time to bake cookies with my mom? Will we host for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Should I visit this side of my family this year since I saw the other side of the family last year? It’s mentally, emotionally, and physically taxing. I recently heard someone say that they realized the holiday magic we experience as kids is actually just the result of adults working hard behind the scenes. That made it all click for me. Thanksgiving and Christmas weren’t inherently magical. They were magical because the adults in my life made them so.
“While the holidays may feel stressful for me,
they’re creating magic for someone else, and
that makes it all worthwhile.”
My dad waited in line for hours at Toys“R”Us to make sure I got a Furby for Christmas the year they were released in 1998. My mom handmade my costume for my school’s Christmas pageant, because she knew how seriously I took my role as the star the Wise Men followed. They both moved heaven and earth to make sure I was able to see, experience, and receive everything I wanted during the holidays. I was incredibly lucky in that way, and I’m still incredibly grateful for all they did for me. But it wasn’t just my mom and dad who created holiday magic for me. Jane, our family friend and the woman who looked after me for most of my childhood, was also the MVP when it came the holidays. Jane also worked at The Martin Agency as a proofreader for a while, and she would invite me and my mom to their holiday party every year. I remember how stunning and elaborate I thought it was – tinsel garlands hanging from the ceiling, grown-ups dressed up in holiday attire, and chocolate-covered strawberries made to look like they were wearing little tuxedos. It was also where I tried pâté for the first time, which made me feel very fancy. One year, the party landed on the same evening as the Grand Illumination (now known as RVA Illuminates), which felt especially magical. That was another event Jane always made sure we attended, and she’d humor me as I walked around giving each light-up reindeer a name and asking to take photos with them. Sadly, Jane passed away a few years ago, so I’m not able to reminisce on the glory days of Christmas with her in person anymore, but the memories she gave me will last a lifetime.
Now, as an adult, it’s my turn to pass that magic along to the next generation. So, I decorate the house, I make the cookies and holiday treats that everyone waits all year for, and I buy the gifts on the kids’ wish lists. And I remember that while the holidays may feel stressful for me, they’re creating magic for someone else, and that makes it all worthwhile.
