Day 17
Annual Ornaments
My grandmother (mom’s mom) started a tradition of giving each of her grandkids a special ornament for the Christmas tree each year. That was the one gift I really looked forward to from my grandma because they were the most awesome little trinkets. What made them even more special is that we were to be given our ornaments on our 18th birthday so that we had them for our very first tree away from home. Sort of a keepsake of childhood memories.
There was the traditional satin orb for baby’s first year, but also wooden toy boxes, porcelain angels, crystal snowflakes, bells and lots of fun characters from Mikey the Mouse to Bugs Bunny. My favorite was a cat playing with a ball, but not just an ordinary ball. This was a clear hamster ball with a little hamster inside.
Sadly, things did not go well when I turned 18 and I left home without my mom’s knowledge one day after I took her to work. We didn’t speak for 6 months. After I got married I asked her if I could have the ornaments from grandma. She told me no. That was that.
When my grandmother died of a massive heart attack I asked mom once again if I could have the ornaments as a reminder of her. Again I was turned down. So, now they hang on mother’s tree and I don’t speak to her anymore (not because of the ornaments).
My dad, knowing that the ornaments meant a lot to me, began the tradition again. Each year I get an ornament from him. They are just as special and wonderful as they were as a child and it’s still the present I look forward to more than any other.
–luna
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Tagged as beg, birthday, childhood, christmas, christmas tree, fun, Holidailies, memories, ornaments, play, work + Categorized as Blog Events/Holidailies
I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t get your ornaments, yet happy to hear that your father understood
My family has the same tradition, my siblings and I got one from my parents each year. My sister has moved out, and has continued the tradition with my nephews.
-Morwin
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