Will is home for Christmas.  It gladdens my heart.

This is a new experience for us – to have one who has left the nest come back home for the holidays. I am liking it.

I told him that his dad has a bad case of influenza, and I asked him if he wanted to take the risk of getting it over Christmas. He said that he was willing to take the risk.

Ralph’s illness has upset one of our family traditions. Ralph will not be strong enough to make the ham. All but one of the 28 years that we have celebrated Christmas as a married couple, he has cooked the main dish, either turkey or ham. (I make some of the side dishes and I make the desserts). He had influenza the last time he didn’t cook the main dish at Christmas, as well.

Ralph wants Will to cook the ham. He asked Will to cook the ham with his coaching. So the tradition of having the man cook the main dish continues in the Kilter Household.

We have other traditions, as well.

We always have a box of Whitman’s chocolates, which we eat over the course of three or four days…offering the box to each other to choose one piece.

We read the story of the first Christmas before opening presents.

We watch Christmas movies. Often, we go to the theater on Christmas day.

What are your traditions?