Although missing our loved ones can make the holidays seem sad and lonely, we have to try to keep them with us through our memories. Maybe I will start a new family tradition of asking each of my older children to share one special Christmas memory from when my parents were alive, and the two younger ones a memory of Christmas with us. That way, I can cherish their memories, and help them keep their memories alive, passing them down to their own children one day.

Even as a child, I liked to wander unexplored territories, as much as that was possible growing up in a subdivision. It was nothing for me to jump the backyard fence, cross the concrete ditch, and shimmy under the barbed wire in order to explore the field behind the house. As I grew older and with a bicycle as my free ride, I went as far as my imagination and legs could take me, which was often to a pecan tree-filled lot beside the junior high school.

Once again, I was able to be part of this outstanding event where everyone’s mantra was “Save the ta-tas!”