To be fair, it was only four big crates – the best four crates of stuff we carted across the ocean if you ask me. The way I look at it, this is our children's one childhood; their one time to experience the magic of Christmas. And all these baubles are a way to connect them to my own childhood. Yup, they were a must-bring, plain and simple. Nine years later, I'm so glad we have them with us.
More so, the decorations are a way for my children to know my parents. This is the twentieth Christmas without my mother - unthinkable, really. She loved Christmas, spending days baking goodies for us and decorating. So, as I gently unwrap each ornament and hang it on the tree, she springs back to life. I can hear her laughing and - for just a bit – my mom is with me again.
Snow globes
My mother's snow globes are now the centerpiece of our dining table. Most of them were gifts and have a Christmas theme, but a couple is different. As a reporter, I once covered the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City and the parade director gave me a special parade globe complete with moving parts. One is of the pre-9/11 New York City skyline, where I lived for most of my adult life.
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