This Christmas was very memorable because it was a major change in my family’s traditions.
First, we were no longer living in Central Illinois but Houston and we never had spent the holiday break anywhere else. It probably wasn’t feasible to visit my grandparents so they were gracious enough to come south. Had Mom and Dad known they’d stay until Valentine’s Day, I’m sure the invitation wouldn’t have been as open-ended. Still it was awesome to have them present, I really wanted some “continuity” in my life. High school was rough at Strake Jesuit (socially and academically) plus I felt I was missing the “life” I thought I would have at Griffin in Springfield. Sugar Land’s middle school was even harder on Brian, namely the day he had to try out for the basketball team, an alien concept at St. Agnes. I know I was relieved about Christmas remaining a private, family function too. Thanksgiving was a mess. Our parents thought it was wise to spend it with the neighbors. Adults can be pretty dumb, especially when they think their children will mingle, coexist or at least fake it for several hours.
Second, the weather was an odd change. It wasn’t balmy or warm, yet we weren’t freezing, blanketed in snow. I remember Houston in late December was cold, windy, overcast and unpleasant in another way. It certainly didn’t “feel” like Christmas but I quickly overcame this objection when I experienced Spring arriving in February twice (1983 and 1984). Now I just roll my eyes at those who lament the lack of seasonal change.
The final break with the routine was instigated by my mother. She insisted on everyone opening their gifts on Christmas Eve, a practice I continue to strongly dislike. Why? It means there’s nothing else to do on Christmas Day but eat, watch TV and go to Mass (as a kid, you know there’s always a catch). What harm is there in waiting another evening? I guess Mom decided to use Houston as the excuse to make the shift.
I did pretty well that year too. A couple key D&D hardback rulebooks, Adam Ant’s Friend or Foe, Men at Work’s Business as Usual and a Lego kit from Brian. I’m confident my grandparents gave us cash since they didn’t have time to shop. I have little to no recollection on everyone else because I was pretty self-involved then.
The two-week break from school wasn’t as enjoyable as previous ones. We didn’t live close to any malls, theaters or something entertaining. I attended private school which meant I didn’t know the neighborhood kids neither. Brian wasn’t keen on them anyway. This resulted in us watching copious amounts of MTV and Nickelodeon. My friend Gene came over for a day but I think this only amplified the boredom because he lived in an older, more developed part of Houston. I believe I was actually looking forward to returning to school for the first time, at least high school prepared me on that aspect of college.
One lasting legacy of this Christmas came much later in the new year. My mother took some time off to see Austin with my grandparents. Course, this was the puny, 1983 version. I remembered how much Mom disliked the place which was funny. How? She said it was a dull, sleepy government-college town and I recall there were more choice words over the La Quinta Inn downtown (still there today). Oddly she hated Houston for it being too large and thinks Raleigh is awesome, a sleepy, redneck government-college town.
Nineteen-eighty-two was a bittersweet Christmas but it was my first one as a teenager and the beginning of a trend.