When it comes to Christmas traditions, my family really doesn't have any. We used to have a couple, but they kind of faded away. I'm not saying that this is bad or good, but I feel that when I'm married and have kids I'll probably want to start many kinds of traditions.
We had this one tree that we recycled every year for a couple of years. It was a fake, foot-long tree that my mom bought at Fedco, which was a store much like Target. The only ornament I remember was one in the shape of a Christmas tree that I decorated in kindgergarten, with my picture in the middle of it. I'm sure my friend Susan Park remembers this ornament from way back...
You know, to tell you the truth, my mind is a blur when I try to remember the different Christmas memories. There was this one time when my mom was in Korea, so the three of us had to stay with our friends. I stayed at Karen's, of course, and my two brothers stayed at Eddie's. Karen was my best friend growing up, and now I am her maid of honor for her upcoming wedding. Eddie was my older brother's best friend growing up. I remember I got really sick, and couldn't stop coughing. I had to memorize the Apostles' Creed in Korean for the Christmas program at church.
I still remember it to this day. Ask me, and I'll recite it for you in Korean. It was such a difficult time. Memorizing lines, coughing, being apart from my family...
Growing up, our family lived in a house that didn't have a fireplace. Therefore, no chimney. Therefore, no means for Santa to come and leave us gifts under the tree. So I knew at an early age that Santa didn't exist.
And as for opening up presents, there was never a tradition of opening gifts on Christmas morning. I think if it were up to me, and if I had the power to do so, I would have told everyone that we need to get a gift for everyone, wrap it, and open them on Christmas morning. But we always opened gifts on Christmas Eve. If we gave gifts. And you were lucky if they were wrapped. It's gotten to the point where I go shopping with my brothers and mom, and just get them anything they want for Christmas, after Christmas. It's usually on sale so it's good.
I don't know. Holidays don't bring back warm memories for me. I think I blocked out a lot of holiday memories because they are too painful.
I feel so out of place in LA. I literally keep in touch with two friends consistently when I'm here in the LA area. And I never know what church to go to. It's hard because I'd like to attend the same church as my family...to go to church all together in one car. That hasn't happened in such a long time. We're all over the place now. My mom serves in a church in downtown LA, my younger brother goes to Vineyard, my older brother goes to OKC, and I go to TKC. It's just hard to go back to the church you grew up in just once for vacation, especially because I don't keep in touch with anyone anymore.
Wow, I feel like I'm revealing too much of myself. This must be so boring! It went from hazy Christmas memories to church uncomfortability.
Anyways, I like being home in Fullerton for the holidays. It's cool being a teacher because you get vacation when the students get vacation. For the past week I've been watching Korean videos with my older brother and hanging out with friends. Tonight I hung out with John Park, Susan Park, and Carey Lin - three awesome, uplifting, musical, down-to-earth, and available people. Susan, Carey, and I spent some time jamming on the piano and guitar. We sang until our voices were hoarse. I loved it. I treasure those times. I love musical people. We made a music connection tonight.
I hope the rest of my time in Fullerton is relaxing and enjoyable. I guess I'll try to update this page more often.
One request to people out there is to please make your thought pages' fonts bigger, and againt a readable background color. Many times I just can't get into an entry because of the font and color... Just a little request. You don't have to, but if you do... then I'd be grateful! :9 tee hee