Santa, Fire Trucks and Waiving to the Past

It was later than expected. In fact, I totally forgot about it until I heard the sirens just after 8:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.  Then it hit me. It was Saturday, the 8th of December; the day Santa was to arrive in our neighborhood followed by the trucks of our local fire department.

Once we figured out what was happening our household was on red alert - coats, shoes, camera... are we ready? Let's go! Out we went to the end of the driveway to wave hello to Santa as he, the red lights and the noise served as another reminder that Christmas and the holiday season have arrived.

As I stood and watched my daughters wave to the big guy (pictured above) I couldn't help but think of traditions and what they mean to us.  As a product of divorced parents my traditions were somewhat complex, not-so-traditional and for the most part ever changing. There wasn't anything wrong with it, and my folks did their best to maintain the traditions of their past, but it was an effort to maintain consistency from year to year. Which brings me back to firetrucks and Santa.

As a kid I remember running as fast as I could to get to the curb to make sure I saw Santa and to make sure he saw me. I remember getting candy canes from the firemen, seeing my neighbors, and going to bed with a level of excitement unmatched until the next pre-Christmas reminder came my way.

As we enter the days of crowded malls, holiday parties and excessive eating (at least for me), I plan to embrace whatever traditions I participate in and whatever traditions our families create. After all, traditions are great and meant to be shared. They are reminders of our past and doorways to our future and are a big part of every family, community and holiday season.

Tonight my daughter and I picked out our tree as my wife and my other daughter stayed home and baked cookies. Perhaps we're starting our own tradition.

It's About Time to Give Thanks

I've never once considered writing about giving thanks. At least not until now. And it's not that I have never been thankful, it's just that I usually thank those that I think I should and thank the powers that be when...well, I feel I should. Other than that, I'm usually too consumed with work, life and everything else to think about who and what  I should be thankful for. However, this year is different and I couldn't think of a better way to revive this damn blog then to write a quick post about being thankful.

The clean up, Somers Point, NJ

First I'd like to say that I'm thankful for my family. Our house is crazy. It's populated by me (enough said), my wife, my two daughters, my mother-in-law and two popcorn-eating hermit crabs. We're involved in sports, CCD, gymnastics, soccer, dance, art class, we work full time, enjoy wine and we're constantly on the run. However, I wouldn't have it any other way. It's crazy, and at times pure madness, but it's home and I'm thankful for it.

I'm also thankful for immediate family and extended family, who most recently helped us clean up my mother's home in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. It's been years since we all got together, and unfortunately I didn't get to see them, but somehow everyone managed to come together when my mom needed help most.

Finally, I'm thankful for a group of friends that I consider to be family. Throughout the year they provide constant support and companionship and have always been there for us. Each and every year they demonstrate their generosity by participating in our annual fundraising event to help raise money for childhood cancer research and each and every year I'm reminded just how fortunate I am to have them in our lives.

Team Payton 2012, Kicking Cancer's Butt
(http://www.facebook.com/teampayton2012)

As we head into another fun-filled Thanksgiving Day week I'm thankful I've got my health (for now), my family and a group of friends that just don't quit.

Happy Thanksgiving.