Traditions Change as Life Changes :: Truck Stop Dinners & Fresh Cut Trees

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My first Thanksgiving dinner with my dad was at a truck stop.

No, we weren’t stranded, nor were we on our way anywhere. We had dinner at a truck stop because my dad always enjoyed their Thanksgiving dinner. As a kid, I always thought this was so cool. My brother and dad would watch the football game and then in the afternoon we would head out to the truck stop. There was always surprisingly a lot of people. I’m not sure if it was just truck drivers or other families that didn’t want to cook, but it was always packed. After eating a very traditional meal of turkey, mash potatoes, rolls, pie, etc., my brother and I would head off to the arcade to play video games. That was always our tradition.

Traditions Change as Life Changes :: Truck Stop Dinners & Fresh Cut Trees from Albuquerque Moms BlogBut, as life changes so do traditions.

It had always been just my dad, my brother and myself. We spent all our major holidays together and even developed traditions along the way. My dad, in particular, loved the holidays. Well, he loved the traditions and sentimental ideas of the holidays. That’s probably why growing up we didn’t particularly get any materialistic things during Christmas. But, it didn’t matter. The idea of spending time with each other is what my dad felt was important.

I remember when we were little, we always had a fresh cut tree. Our tradition after Thanksgiving, literally the next day, we went out behind our house to find a tree. Our house sat borderline to the national forest. Now, I’m not sure if that was legal, but that’s where we got our tree. My dad was not fond of “plastic” trees. He loved the smell of a fresh cut tree. After picking out our tree it was time to set it up. We would bring out all our decorations and start adding them to our tree. That was the kick-start to our Christmas holiday.

Traditions Change as Life Changes :: Truck Stop Dinners & Fresh Cut Trees from Albuquerque Moms Blog

But, as I mentioned above as life changes so do traditions.

My brother went off to college and me off to military school so our holidays started changing. We no longer went to the truck stop for our dinner. Probably because the restaurant changed and so did the meal. We started making dinner at home, but it wasn’t the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. My dad said he was over the turkey and wanted something new. We ended up having Cornish Game Hens as our main course. We still had mashed potatoes, but from a box, rolls, and pie. I was okay with this. It was just nice to be home.

More Change 

Eventually, my brother stopped coming home for the holidays. It was just my dad and I. So our traditional tree cutting began to slowly fade. My dad eventually gave in and bought a “plastic” tree. My dad said that he was getting too old to go out and get a tree. So we decorated a “plastic” tree.

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Eventually, I grew up too. I had my daughter and my holidays ended with my in-laws mostly. My brother moved to Florida with his girlfriend. My dad got married and spent his holidays with his wife. I remember calling my dad crying, telling him that I wish things didn’t have to change. I always felt overwhelmed celebrating other people’s traditions. My dad reminded me every holiday that just because we aren’t together doesn’t mean we don’t love each other.

Then it hit me.

All About Family

It was never specifically about the traditions. It was never about having things done a particular way. It was about family. It was about spending time with the people that mean the most to you. My dad growing up always enjoyed our company even if we were in separate rooms. The idea of having a tree with lights, a fire in the fireplace, and having his two children under the same roof comforted him.

The Christmas of 2014 was the last holiday we spent with our dad. We didn’t go to a truck stop for dinner. We didn’t have a fresh cut tree. We didn’t make Cornish Game Hens. We didn’t have any of the things we did growing up. We had so much more.

We had each other.

For the first time in a very long time, my dad got to spend that holiday with our families. We were able to be under one roof. It’s funny how the holidays have a way of bringing people together when we need it most. Although my dad is not with us anymore, we continue on to celebrate. My dad loved everything about the holidays. He especially loved his Christmas tree. Plastic or real the tree had to be up. Every year I send my dad’s wife a tree. It’s not a big tree, but it’s a tree. That way every time we light it up we remember my dad and all his love.

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So remember this holiday season to slow down. Live in the moment and allow yourself to emerge in the present. Be open to change and create new memories. Because one day that’s all we’ll have is memories.

Happy Holidays!