A Central Kansas Christmas

For years we made the trip from Northeastern Colorado to Central Kansas to spend Christmas with my grandparents and my aunts, uncles and cousins.

I don't recall the food, except that it was always excellent and copious, for my grandma was a fantastic cook, never used a recipe and had a deft hand with pie crust. I think she made mincemeat pies, which were never my favorite, but all right with me. I'm sure my mom brought a along a big selection of her famous Christmas cookies, sugar cookies shaped like reindeer, santa, stars, wreaths, and half moons. She frosted them and they were a joy to behold and to eat.

My aunt and uncle always gave me a box of chocolate covered cherries, which they knew I liked. One year I got a windup gray elephant. Come to think of it I don't remember many of the presents, either.

What I remember is the Christmas eve service at the little evangelical church. Even if we arrived at the last minute, I was always plopped into the little (10-12 person) chorus to sing, and sometimes, of course, I didn't know the lyrics but I would open and close my mouth which amused the relatives. Our cousin was the pianist and she and her daughter played the marimba, beautifully.

My mom and her brother were Republicans and the two other brothers were Democrats and they would have some lively discussions which made my Grandma very nervous. The women always did dishes and cleaned up together after the big feasts, so no one got stuck with all the work. As soon as I was old enough, I dried dishes. My Grandma frequently sang hymns while she washed the dishes. It sounds corny but it was beautiful. Although theirs was a formerly Mennonite house (my grandpa) sometimes we played cards after dinner, but never for money.

When I was older I noticed that some of the girls were marrying in their teens and having babies, and I couldn't imagine staying in that tiny town all one's life. I thought they were crazy. Some left. My mother was one that left, and I don't think she was every sorry.

The big family and the friendly townsfolk are something I still cherish.They created s a warm feeling I could wrap around myself my whole life. Everyone is gone now, and the little white church is a daycare center, and the houses that looked big and grand to me as a child now seem small and a little shabby. I know more people in the cemeteries than in the town, and will probably will never return, but there is no need to., because a part of me is that town and the family and the warm welcoming house with the long dining room table groaning with food and the family and friends who shared the blessing.