bubbles

For as long as I can remember, I have always, ALWAYS looked forward to Christmas. It IS the most wonderful time of the year—so where could I possibly go wrong right?

My earliest memory of Christmas, however, is my Papa. I remember going to a local bookstore a few days before Christmas, and I saw this pink plastic envelop with a handle and a Bambi design on it. I really liked it and asked Papa to buy it for me, but he didn’t. Of course I threw a fit, yet still I didn’t get my way.

Little did I know that come Christmas morning, it was going to be sitting there under the tree, waiting for me to open it. It was one of the best Christmas gifts I’ve ever had.

Then there was this Christmas, I think I was 6 or 7, when all of us kids in the family had a Game and Watch as gifts. It’s the predecessor of what is now known as the Game Boy or Nintendo DS – the coolest and biggest thing that ever happened to electronics, after the Atari that is. Ate got a Parachute, my cousins an Octopus and a Popeye (? I’m not sure), while I got the Egg. I can still see clearly in my mind that one family picture wherein all of us kids were not even looking at the camera because, well, we were busy playing. Man those were the days.

And who can forget that wonderful smell of new money? Whether it’s a 2, 5, 10, 20, or 50-peso bills (you’re considered a gazillionaire if you have a 100-peso bill), I’m pretty sure there was a time in your childhood life when you have those tucked in your wallet, according to denomination even. Money that will be spent a day or two later at the local carnival and baratillo place that was once called PhilCite, now popularly known as Star City.

Sometimes though, Christmas is not always about fun.

Our first Christmas with Ate in the States and us here in the Philippines wasn’t fun. The first Christmas after Papa died sure wasn’t fun, likewise after my Lolo Mocring died in 2006.  My first Christmas away from all my family didn’t amount too much, either. And just recently, in 2007, my Lola Caring died too, five days to Christmas. She was laid to rest on the last day of the year, practically New Year’s Eve.

Still it’s a Holiday I look forward to. Still it’s worth celebrating and be thankful for. For what will be the most wonderful time of the year if it wasn’t Christmas?

Belated Happy Holidays everyone.