The two southwest Ohio Christmases were different - my mom was an only-child, so it was just the four of us kids - we could all sit around one large table to eat, and I still remember Santa Claus showing up when we were opening our gifts. My dad was the oldest of six, and so the adults would be in one room while the kids would go in another room. All of the family was still together at key points though - we just went in different rooms because when you have so many children playing under the feet of a dozen adults, someone could get their fingers stepped on.
A big difference compared to today is how as kids, we were playing with toy cars and trucks and stuff. The neatest electronic toy of the day might have been some handheld football game that showed dots on a screen.
Nowadays it's whatever "i" or "droid" that can gig and boot.
The talk of the day (that I remember) was what else Santa brought us.
Now it's whatever news - rumored, maybe true, or true - is on the internet.
Dinner was all homemade. My Grandma Burkhardt would make Chex-Mix before someone did the wrong thing by bagging it, which is (in my opinion) no where close to the same.
Now I'm listening to everyone talk about how busy they are to cook (side note - my brother works, covers overtimes, runs over an hour every day, and can find time to bake dozens of cookies each night. Sorry, no sympathy here).
What if we went back to a simpler time? What if we put away the electronics and turned off the media devices and cell phones? What if we set down with our friends and loved ones for Christmas?
What would Christmas be like?
