I think traditions and just some consistency is needed in your life. I am not saying the mundane daily grind type of thing. But special times or moment’s of the year that is special to you. Things like your birthday or anniversary or what not. There was a time that during my birthday we somehow always made a trip to the California State Fair as a group of friends. Regardless of how dumb or hot or whatever it was, we did it. And you know what, I loved it. Things like that are what you remember and stick with you for your whole life.
So what are some of your traditions for the holidays? I know some people that feel the holiday’s are the best time to go out. I never found the appeal in this, but I guess if you don’t have family or people close by then go get drunk and party with people similar to you right? I mean at least you have some stuff in common and sure you can get some booty easier too. I know a lot of people travel to family and what not. Also just resting and not doing anything but watch Football is another, especially if you work retail haha.
I know what I will be doing though. On Christmas Eve I usually finish up any shopping that I need to finish during the daytime. But at night right around 5pm-ish you will find me at my Japanese Grandma’s house. Here you will find me, my sister, my dad and my grandmother having dinner. We usually eat some good feast, usually its Prime Rib because my sister and I usually pick. We eat a lot, chill, watch some Family Feud and just enjoy ourselves. I eat there a lot but that day is different. We argue less and just relax, eat well. Sometime during the night we will give my dad and grandma their Christmas presents. Our grandma will give us 2 cards, one from her the other from my uncle. And that’s our dinner.
Soon after we say our goodbye’s I usually end up at home for bit. That’s about the time some phone calls are made and I see who’s in town. And the planning is made. Sometime after midnight we embark on a journey to Thunder Valley, a local Indian Casino. Where else to go on Christmas morning? The Indian Casino, where else haha. We go there specifically because it has Fatburger. We don’t get it very often and that is the only place up North that we have a Fatburger. It’s also due to the Ice Cube song, nothing is better then Fatburger at 2 in the morning. We embark there and just eat and chill. Some gambling, mostly banter and talking and good times. That is how I end the night of Christmas Eve/early Christmas morning.
Christmas is more tradition time for me. The daytime and what not, we do whatever we want to do. I usually drive around a bit. If you have never driven on a Holiday it is fun. The freeways are empty, there is a calm that makes the world feel different then any other day of the year. I also love to drive and think, it’s a nice time to reflect back on the year and just enjoy the day. Usually it involves me with the heater blasting, music blasting, sunroof and windows open. That’s how I roll haha. Probably try and grab a warm beverage somewhere, drop off presents to friends if I have time. Then I meet up with my sister, usually at my dad’s midafternoon. Finish up on any leftover giftwrapping and chill out for a minute.
We then head to my Uncle’s house. Same house all the time for Christmas day. I always seem to forget the gate code to get in too. We roll in and enjoy the day there. This is the fun time. This is my Chinese side, my mom had 1 sister and 5 brothers. This is the only side I have cousins on. The table has grown a lot over the years as have we. The food is glorious. My Aunt is awesome, the Chinese Rachel Ray, she makes some good stuff. Everyone does, but she always goes out of her way to make it real special. We play games at dinner, usually its a secret sticker under our plates or random number game. We are the funniest thing. For the one day, even the most “fobbiest” of the family, we turn into a normal American family. We eat, we drink, we laugh. We open presents as a group. Then we gamble and play cards and talk crap and everything. We do this until the wee hours of the morning. No feuding, no issues, just family time.
I love this time of the year. This is when I love tradition and just things seem normal to me. I fear the day where my Christmas Eve and Day end differently then I described. But until then I just love to enjoy it for what it is and just enjoy the tradition of it all.
