Thanksgiving is a time of traditions. While I was at FLI, one question we were asked in our Marriage and Family class was “what are some of your family’s traditions?” and honestly, my family is one of few traditions, which I don’t mind at all, in fact the free and easy way we would handle celebrations and holidays, without getting bogged down with a lot of traditions, often left us free to create new memories and unique, once upon a time experiences. Not to say we were totally devoid of traditions, we have our handful of short-term traditions, the ones that hang around for a few years before they fizzle out due to forgetfulness. But as far as the rock solid, “Fiddler on the Roof” style traditions, not so much.
I don’t mind this tradition of non-traditions, but when the question was asked last year, it got me thinking, what are some of my own personal traditions? What are some things that I do, even just by myself, that might one day meld into the traditions of my future family?
Well, this month, I had begun one, and another was not meant to be a tradition, but this year I turned it into a tradition. And I’d like to try to keep them both…at least for a while.
Emily Padgett. Good things.
The first tradition, the one I started this year, was on November 11. As I’m sure you’re aware of, this year was a once in a lifetime date of 11-11-11, a wishing day! So at 11:00 pm, eight of us gathered around the clock tower at my school, and tied slips of paper with our wishes to helium balloons, then as 11:11 struck, we launched our balloons, sending away our wishes into the starry sky!
I loved this even so much, that I’ve decided to continue it, and now I look forward to next November 11th, at 11:11 pm, when I will again launch my wishes to the sky! Would you care to join me?
The other tradition, you could say began last year, though I didn’t think I would make it into a tradition until I chose to continue it this year. Last Thanksgiving, after my friend Annalee and I had our Thanksgiving supper at Denny’s (because it’s always open according to Tim Allen in “The Santa Clause”), we returned to my apartment and watched “The Santa Clause” while eating a tube of cookie dough.
This Thanksgiving, I realized that my grandma (who I’m living with) owns that movie, so of course, I bought myself a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough, and settled myself in front of the television to watch Tim Allen as he masters the art of being Santa. Shall this tradition continue next year? I certainly hope so! 
And so, as I grow up, and begin to find myself creating a new life for myself, not quite separate from my family, though not quite adjoined either, I will continue to create these little traditions, though I’m sure I can promise I will have my own handful of non-traditions as well.
:-)
P.S. while I was writing this post, I was talking with my sister, and she mentioned these as her favorite “traditions” my family keeps pertaining to Christmas, the next major, tradition-packed holiday.
Getting sick – Apparently we always get sick on Christmas? I don’t remember this one…
Christmas in the car – Last Christmas, the 25th was on a Saturday. Because of the way the day fell and the way Dads work schedule was, the parents wanted us to drive up to Michigan the day after Christmas. However, we kids wanted to be at church to see all our friends by Sunday, so we talked Mom and Dad into celebrating “Christmas in the Car”. We could open presents, watch Christmas movies, listen to Christmas music…how great! Well, we ended up just celebrating on Christmas Eve, then just sleeping the whole way to Michigan. But it was the thought that counts, right?
