Of Sandcastles and Snowmen

It's snowing like crazy as I sit down to write this - the kind of snowfall that would give me anxiety attacks back when I had a commute and I was brand-new to New England. Five years and two all-wheel drive vehicles later I sit in my cozy house and enjoy watching as the landscape quickly changes from gray and dreary to just plain magical.

What can I say, I've become one of you.

When I'm not staring out the window, I'm packing for our Christmas trip to see my parents. As much as I look forward to the trip (because what is Christmas without family?) and the amazing weather in Miami at this time of year, I'm starting to feel a bit apprehensive about leaving. The old "White Christmas" fantasy is part of it - for a girl who grew up in the Dominican Republic hoping for a tiny little snowflake on Christmas eve, it is a little odd that now that I have children of my own I'm taking them away from a postcard-perfect Christmas and take them where palm trees glow with miniature lights in the balmy tropical nights. So yeah, that's part of it, but I'm also itching to start our own Christmas traditions. I'm pulled between the comfort of "home" and the desire to create memories of our own for our children.

Maybe next year?

Both my boys are under the age of three. I think the holidays will be more important for them when they're older, so that gives me some time to buy our nativity set and to stock up on gold and burgundy ornaments. This year, we'll go to Miami and maybe spend Christmas day building sandcastles instead of snowmen.

Comments

[Tania]

We spent one Christmas in Florida two years ago. It was wonderful but I'm glad we don't do that every year.

However, there are a few years when I dream of lighted palm trees and beaches on Christmas. Maybe one day you'll have the best of both world and your parents can come to you on Christmas.

[margaret]

I would love to visit Disney one Christmas, but who knows. There are plenty of years ahead for white Christmas's with your boys.

[Binky]

If it's any consolation, I doubt we'll have a white Christmas. Maybe a yellow one, if there's any snow left over from previous storms...but fresh snowfall ON Christmas? Eh, not likely.