Merry Christmas to you and the people you love. Christmas (as I’ve often been told) is about tradition and the traditions we grew up with and share with our children. I’m also acutely aware that life is about change. It is always changing and evolving. Very few things in life remain the same. Even our beliefs over time are subject to some modification and perhaps even change.
So it is with this Christmas of 2013. For the first time in 66 years I did not celebrate Christmas Eve in the traditional sense. Normally that involves a lite dinner, Church, and presents with the family and kids. But life is after all about change. Your family grows up and older. People pass away and people intertwine their lives with another and pretty soon the traditions become blurred and obscure. New ones emerge but they too are fleeting and soon become more of a memory than reality.
Jeanne and I celebrated a very unusual Christmas this year. For the first time in the 37 years we have celebrated Christmas, we did it by ourselves. Not with a small dinner but with a roast beef complete with the trimmings. Not with church but with the watching of the marathon of “A Christmas Story”, not with our children and grand children, nor even the dogs (they are at the kennel) but by ourselves in our recliners looking at the Christmas tree with all the blinking lights and ornaments from Christmases past. With no anticipation or excitement about the wrapped gifts beneath the tree, they will be opened at a later time.
As I sat there in the dimly lit room and gazed at my life partner I thought to myself… “This is okay, life is about change and as long as we have each other we’ll face the changes that come with or without the traditions of years gone by.”
So I say again, Merry Christmas to you and the people you love. Hold them close and cherish them because you just never know.   To my friends (whom I cherish) I say thank you for your friendship, it is a gift that I am unworthy of but I shall continue to strive to be so.
Thanks for stopping by the blog. Safe travels, enjoy the day and be careful.
Upde Designs 
My love and I have been celebrating Christmases for 49 years and you are so right. They are continually evolving but it is so nice to be happy with whatever fate brings. So often we have decided that whatever is different will be very good. Thank you for a very nicely written post with some great photos.
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Thank you Pat. I am sorry for your loss. Life is a gift with no promises and every day presents new challenges and opportunities. My hopes for a wonderful new year for you and your family.
Regards, Dave Updegraff ³People Rarely Succeed At Anything Unless They Have FUN Doing It.² My Blog | Photography | Web Site | Genesis Process
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Dave, you brought tears to my yeas with your words. I was just talking to my 84 year old Mom about this very topic of change in traditions tonight. She is not accepting of life’s cycle and how we move along the cycle of life and how it changes the dynamics in our lives and so, has struggled with finding happiness. She has not been able to do what you accomplished sitting in your recliner, being grateful for where you are in life, what you have been able to enjoy, and be satisfied internally with the beautiful memories of the past and willing to accept the experiences of the future no matter what form they may take. You, my friend, have captured one of the great secrets of life’s happiness while sitting in your recliner. Merry Christmas to you my dear, old, friend.
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Thank you Kathy. You made my day with your wonderful comments. I will never forget our wonderful times together.
Regards, Dave Updegraff ³People Rarely Succeed At Anything Unless They Have FUN Doing It.² My Blog | Photography | Web Site | Genesis Process
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Beautiful image. There’s something about barns in the snow that always appeals to me. Happy New Year.
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Thank you very much Denise. I too love barns in any setting. 🙂 Happy New Year to you as well.
Regards, Dave Updegraff ³People Rarely Succeed At Anything Unless They Have FUN Doing It.² My Blog | Photography | Web Site | Genesis Process
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