tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post707623427837830147..comments2023-09-19T04:39:34.712-07:00Comments on A Publisher's Perspective: The Meaning of ChristmasTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-17241272019776981462008-12-27T18:46:00.000-08:002008-12-27T18:46:00.000-08:00Excellent piece Ted. It brings back a lot of bitt...Excellent piece Ted. It brings back a lot of bitter-sweet memories for a lot of folks I'm sure. <BR/><BR/>Best to you and yours for the holidays.<BR/><BR/>MikeMike Nugenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10596837239476987905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-52453363454453865432008-12-18T19:52:00.000-08:002008-12-18T19:52:00.000-08:00Wonderful recollections, Ted. At this time of yea...Wonderful recollections, Ted. At this time of year I always think of Christmas 30 years ago surrounded by my very Italian family. Christmas Eve - full of the anticipation in a young boy's heart. Snow. Cold. Loving it. Waiting for Santa Claus, and hoping that last doozie of a bad thing I did didn't make his list.<BR/><BR/>My grandfather passed when I was 8, so my memories of him are limited. But there's Gramma at the old stove and oven - our traditional Christmas day dinner being prepared... ham, turkey, pasta with squid in the sauce (Oh my God is that good), eel, fried and baked fish, homemade bread... and more.<BR/><BR/>We haven't had that meal since she died nearly 15 years ago, but you know I can still smell and taste it. Just like it was in front of me. That never leaves you - smells are some of the most powerful memories. I'll be able to taste it 20, 30, 40 years from now, until the day I'm gone.<BR/><BR/>Always a real tree in Gramma's living room, and after dinner we kids would tear into the presents. Then the cousins would come over, we'd exchange gifts, and we kids would show off our new toys, and go out in the big backyard for a snowball fight.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I think I'd give 5 years of my life to go back for just one day. But then I think of my wife and our daughter, and our own memories. One day she'll remember too. And maybe she'll remember how our dinners tasted, and opening presents in front of our big tree, Christmas music playing in the background.<BR/><BR/>We're all very blessed. I'm blessed to have you as my publisher, my editor, my friend. Thanks for all you do. The experience of writing about what I love and having some people think it's half decent has made a whole new set of memories I'll treasure just as long as the taste of Christmas dinner at Gramma's.<BR/><BR/>J.D.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-57321452495937378062008-12-18T08:59:00.000-08:002008-12-18T08:59:00.000-08:00This is really a moving piece. Brings back memorie...This is really a moving piece. Brings back memories for me of cold Minnesota winters and family too long gone, sadly. Thanks for sharing, Mr. Savas. I really enjoy your postings. I hoope you have a good Christmas this year.<BR/><BR/>MattAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-54602790693449497962008-12-17T23:31:00.000-08:002008-12-17T23:31:00.000-08:00Ted,Very well written and something I can relate t...Ted,<BR/><BR/>Very well written and something I can relate to. Croatian family here, and remember the kitchen always being full of folks. As the years have gone by, those who were there are no longer with us. Christmas here has not been the same since the passing of my younger sister in 2006. My Mom was not ready to decorate the house as has been common since then, but can happily report that last weekend she and I did do so as we normally did before we all lost Mary K. Mom and I had a fine afternoon. :)<BR/><BR/>Merry Christmas to you and your family and all the best in 2009.<BR/><BR/>Regards from the Garden State,<BR/><BR/>Steve BasicSteve Basichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05303765474814808582noreply@blogger.com