Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas. We are enjoying the holiday with our four children and, of course, Luna. It is not a white Christmas here in Virginia this year, given the lack of snow this season. However, we made do. We all watched A White Christmas next to the tree picked out by our local cadre of Bears fans. Leslie made her signature Old-Fashioned cocktails as we listened to Crosby, Kaye, Clooney, and Vera-Ellen bring in the holiday in the 1954 classic.
Last night, I made our traditional Cioppino soup — a tradition started by my late father, Jack Turley. It is a spicy mix of mussels, shrimp, sea bass, clams, crab meat, and other ingredients. I have previously written how I grew up hating the soup, but the tradition fell to me when my father became ill. I am now as addicted to the soup as my father was. When I make the soup each year, it continues an indelible connection to my Dad and best friend.
Even though our kids are all grown, Santa still came this morning and Luna remained as quiet as an elf with his arrival. (Likely because her own stocking was stuffed for a good dog)
We have had our mishaps at the holidays, particularly in driving to Chicago and facing a series of unfortunate events. However, since we are celebrating at home in Virginia, it proved, thankfully, less eventful this year.
With the passing of my mother, Angela, earlier this year, it is a holiday mixed with a sense of profound loss. This was her favorite holiday. We decorated our tree with the birds that Mom would put on her own tree in Chicago. Even with missing her and thinking about her, there is also the gratitude of being surrounded by those you love. This holiday reminds you of how blessed you truly are to have your friends and family with you.
Tonight, we will be making our traditional Christmas meal. I will be doing the beef, gravy, Yorkshire pudding, and freshly ground horseradish sauce. I use my Dad’s English cookbook with his scribblings in the margins and carve on the same carving board that we used for over 60 years. We also have a great Bûche de Noël (or yule log cake) and other delights for dessert.
The Turley family wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday. I will be toasting our blog family tonight and giving thanks for the wonderful community we have created here.
So “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Best wishes,
Jonathan Turley
Hi Johnathan,
This is the first time I posted something…
I read your ‘stuff’ often, and agree about 98.5% of the time!
It sounds like you had a great Christmas with your family…
I liked all of your Christmas family traditions. They sound all a little old fashioned (and that’s great)!
We have some old traditions also, One is, I still put up a live tree! A nine foot one!
I hope you and your family have a great time during the rest of the Holidays, and a Happy New Year!!!!!!!
I always enjoy your holiday posts, Professor. Thank you for sharing! You are indeed blessed.
Jonathan:
When I homeschooled my son, my motto for my schooling was: “Sol Omibus Lucet: Respice, Adpice, Prospice”
All of us are childfen of GOD. We all suffer the rays of God’s gift, LIGHT, FREQUENCY, VIBRATION and we live in the Present, the Past and the Future.
God bless you sir.
Alfred
Prof. Turley — You say, “Merry Christmas,” followed by this line: “Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas.” Surely your good wishes motivated by your understanding of Christmas extends to everyone, whether or not he or she celebrates Christmas. The trend today to include the line, “Best wishes to everyone who celebrates” with any holiday greeting perpetuates the idea that we shouldn’t wish Christmas (or Hanukkah or something else) greetings to EVERYONE, whether or not he or she celebrates the occasion. Such greetings are extended in the best wishes of any holiday celebrated, and one should not feel embarrassed to say the word “Christmas,” simply because the one being greeted might not celebrate it. When someone wishes me a “Happy Hanukkah,” I am pleased to accept and embrace his or her good wishes, even though I do not celebrate that holiday.
Merry Christmas! Peace be with you.🎄🥂
So happy to see the Turleys having a good Christmas. So did we. Life is Good.
Dear sir; you are a good and kind man, merry Christmas to you and yours
Merry Christmas.
I was the Lector last night for Midnight Mass, first reading, and it follows below this text. Our Catholic priest, age 80, former attorney, then played, as part of his sermon, The Little Drummer Boy, on his guitar with a lite strum and used the bass of the guitar as a drum. There wasn’t a dry eye in the congregation. Watch the following video till the end, modern but powerful.
Reading I
Isaiah 9:1-6
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122525-Night.cfm