Each year on Christmas morning, my children would rush down the stairs promptly at 6am to see what had been left by the big man in the red suit. Our holiday rule was that children could not wake up their parents until 7am, even though we were awake and could hear them chattering and giggling not long after six. After my husband and I donned robes and slippers, we would sit as a family under the glow of the Christmas tree and share gifts and laughter and love. It was the best of times.

Christmas 2008 challenged my conception of our traditional Christmas celebration. My son had just returned from a mission at sea with the Coast Guard. As a junior officer, he would be serving duty as the Officer of the Watch on the ship Christmas Eve – 8am Christmas Eve until 8am Christmas Day. My daughter, recently married and living just outside of Amsterdam, would be celebrating the holiday in that country with her new husband and his family. The thought of waking up Christmas morning to silence was more than I could bear, so I was quick to come up with an alternative plan. A new tradition.

At eight in the morning on Christmas Eve, my husband, our dog and I set out for the nine hour drive to New Hampshire. I felt like the Grinch with our bags popping at the seams, full of decorations and gifts and holiday treats. We were stealing Christmas from our home and taking it to the top of Mount Portsmouth! Lunch was at our favorite diner just off of the highway. We spread holiday cheer to all the folks we encountered along the way.

Upon arrival at my son’s apartment, the holiday elves were quick to get to work. We put up the small tree and decorations we had brought. We wrapped last minute gifts and when all of our work was finished, we sat with hot chocolate in front of a sparkling little tree. About that time, my son called to see that we had made the trip safely. “We’re just sitting here on the sofa looking at the tree,” I told him. “Mom, I don’t have a tree,” he replied. “You do now!” I said. We all laughed and he went back to work after telling us he would see us bright and early in the morning.

Now, I’m not one for technology. I am the proverbial old dog, but on Christmas of 2008, I was eternally grateful for the internet and Skype. My husband and I were up early that morning. I prepared my son’s favorite breakfast, waffles, and we waited for his arrival. At about nine, we heard his car in the driveway. When he opened the door, the festivities began! My husband quickly signed on Skype and called my daughter. For us, it was still morning, but for the newlyweds, it was early afternoon. Within a few moments, there were my daughter and son-in-law and our “grand-dog” on the screen, seated in front of their tree.

Beneath their tree, clearly visible, were gifts we had shipped earlier. We also had brought with us gifts they had shipped. And there, we sat as a family under the glow of the Christmas tree and the glow of the computer screen and we shared gifts and laughter and love. It was the best of times!

Who knows what this Christmas will bring. But I have learned, as a dear friend once told me, that Christmas is a state of mind. It’s a time with family, a time of sharing and caring. Traditions come and go, but Christmas stays the same. Merry Christmas!