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The holiday season is
quickly approaching. Turkeys
are being bought, shopping
is being done, and houses
are being decorated. No
matter which religion we
follow, we each have rich
traditions we observe every
year with our families.
My family is no exception.
Since my wheelchair makes it
difficult to access any
other family member’s house,
my mom cooks for every
holiday. She prepares a
feast every time, and so
many people come to share
the experience. My great
aunt comes for all the
holidays. Our neighbor
usually joins us, and one in
a while my cousin and her
family come as well. We
never worry about running
out of food, because my mom
always makes enough in case
a few extra people show up.
Thanksgiving is the only
holiday that we don’t serve
any food with red sauce. My
dad is half Italian, so we
have to have red sauce for
every holiday, but my mom
refuses to make it on
Thanksgiving! We have what I
think of as a normal
Thanksgiving dinner. I don’t
eat much meat, but I love
turkey, so I eat a big
turkey leg because I like
dark meat. I also prefer
sweet potatoes to mashed
potatoes, so I have a lot of
those. Finally, my mom makes
the best stuffing in the
world! There is nothing like
cold stuffing later that
night or for days after. We
always have a good
Thanksgiving meal with
leftovers that carry into
the next week!
With Thanksgiving here,
Christmas can’t be far
behind. My mom puts up our
Christmas tree every year.
We have an artificial one
because my brother is
allergic to real pines. Over
90% of our ornaments are
handmade. My great
grandmother and great aunt
made most of them. By the
time we are done, there are
over 600 ornaments on the
tree. My mom only puts clear
lights on the tree because
she doesn’t like colored
ones. It is so beautiful
when it is lit up.
Ever since I was little, my
mom has given me one present
to open on Christmas Eve. It
is always a music box. I
have a collection of music
boxes that I have gotten
from her through the years.
I love all of them because
they each mean something
special to me. The past few
years, my mom has given me
Mickey Mouse music boxes
because I like him so much.
I also give my mom one
present on Christmas Eve.
When I was little, I would
get up at the crack of dawn
on Christmas morning to go
downstairs and open my
presents. Now that I am
older, I like my sleep, so I
don’t get up until 10:00 or
11:00. My big pile of
presents used to be under
the tree, but now I get a
much smaller pile that fits
on my desk.
We have either stuffed
shells or lasagna for
Christmas dinner. My
favorite food is lasagna, so
that is what I want every
year. I always have a huge
piece. My mom also makes a
roast with mashed potatoes
because my great aunt won’t
eat red sauce.
I hate winter and the cold,
but Christmas is my favorite
holiday. I love to go
shopping for my family and
friends. I like to give as
well as receive. Also, most
people are much happier
around the holiday season.
When I am out, I notice more
people will smile, speak to
me, and hold doors for me.
I love the holidays because
I celebrate them with my
family and friends. It is
also a time when I have a
break from school and can
relax. Even though I can do
without the snow, I really
enjoy the holiday season.
–by Beth Anne
You can learn more about the
author, Beth Anne Luciani,
her struggles with athetoid
cerebral palsy, and her life
at Beth Anne’s website:
www.MyTrueSmile.com.
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