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MERRY CHRISTMAS!
First Commercial Christmas Card (Henry Cole 1843)

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

51 thoughts on “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

  2. JT, your mom will be sorely missed. She was a towering character and blazed a courageous trail through life.

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  3. What a wonderful and calming picture of your family’s Christmas. Can you provide the recipe for your soup?

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  6. Merry Christmas to all, particularly the Turley family and Luna! Professor Turley, I wish you had been teaching at GWU when I was there in the late 70’s. The discussion in your Con Law classes must be amazing. I learn more about Con Law from your articles today than I ever learned in my GWU Con Law class.

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  12. “This holiday reminds you of how blessed you truly are to have your friends and family with you.”

    Truer words were never spoken. I do look forward to your daily messages and I have gotten my grandson, who is in law school now, to appreciate your wisdom too. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it and may the Year of The Fire Horse (beginning on February 17) be better than forecast.

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  19. I remember you mentioning in prior years that you assumed the role of maker of the Christmas Cioppino soup. I also remember you mentioning the Yule log. So glad you are maintaining the traditions.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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