Ideas for Writing Holiday Memories

Here are some tips and prompts for recording Holiday memories, illustrated, scrapbooked, blogged, written, etc: 1. Read Capote's "A Christmas Memory." Really, read it. His tone,his use of detail, I can almost smell the fruitcake, and I don't have to watch Letterman to recongize The Fruitcake Lady. 2. Using the questions/prompts Who/What/When/Where/How/Why create and answer questions about a favorite ornament. There are many models in old Xmas mags, including Good Housekeeping, Reminisce, Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, and House Beautiful. 3. Do the same with a favorite recipe used at this time of year; see #2 above. Or, write a history about the ingredients, where they come from, who first made up the recipe, who first used it, disasters and successes, etc. For ideas, see #1, and also Take Joy! by Tasha Tudor, and early editions of The Joy of Cooking. 4. If you save cards and letters, and memoir authors should, review them from past years. Apply questions in #2. Whioch medan the most to you, and ponder why you send cards and letters. To me, these mean more than gifts, and take far more time on my part to send. Even email cards count when I contact friends and family. 5. Try to record your earliest Christmas or holiday memory, even if it is not perfect or silly. I remember being nearly 2, no kidding, and my dad pulling me on my sled with Mom, in front of what was then my Grandma's house. I had on a red snow suit. I remember travelling along, with the snow at eyelevel, and feeling the cold, but not being cold. It was my Dad's first day in the states. He had to wait a year to join us, after a harrowing, dramatic effort to move hear and be discharted from the RHA in Europe. 6. Listen to carols and music; when did you hear a particular piece? Was it your favorite? Why? When did it become your favorite. Visit other traditions, driving to see lights, shopping trips, Church, building snowmen, lighting candles, making gifts? It's up to you. Merry Christmas and Happpy New Year. One of my tradtitions is reading and rereading a Christmas Carol, so, God Bless us, Everyone!

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