As a child and now 'considered' senior in our society, our Christmas was always spent with the Moreno's with a person added in here and there.  What I remember most is the laughter, the laughter of Rosie and my mom Dotty.  Two women far from home, Rosie from New York and my mom from a small town outside of Toronto.  Their Christmas was spent away from their parents, sibblings, all their childhood memories but yet they still made Christmas special for their children or anyone who crossed the threshold of their homes.  Their lives weren't easy, money not plentiful but their children never knew.  Our lives were filled with love and that wonderful laughter they shared.  My mom has been gone for many years now, but Rosie, God Bless her, was sitting their waiting for me every Christmas.  A woman small in body, big  in heart and love and of course laughter.  Her passing ends my Christmas childhood at 59 but not the memories.  I hope her beautiful daughters and myself can continue the laughter for Rhonda's children and her grandsons those beautiful little boys.

Love you Rosie, their will never be another like you.  Thanks for the beautiful journey and for the laughter.  Give my mom a hug and smother her in kisses for me.  Tell her I will see her one day and be the daughter I should have been on earth.  Thank you Rosie for making my family part of yours and thank you for keeping your eyes on us from your window on Kirkwood.  We owe you our  wonderful childhoods filled with love and laughter.

Love,

Maryjane

    Spending holidays together as a family has ALWAYS been our tradition, and we especially enjoyed Christmas time.  Even though I moved to Texas, I would always fly back to California to spend a few weeks with my family...and share in the beauty of the holiday.  We used to have Christmas Day Supper at Mom and Dad's house; but, as the years went on...we started to take turns so Mom and Dad could just be guests and not have all that work.  So, my house, Rhonda's house and Maryjane (Dimech) and Ricks house became the houses we rotated with.   It was great and we all brought something to eat to help with the delicious meals...oh my gosh...the food was amazing and Mom always made one of her special eggplant dishes for us. 

Well...now to the "What'd you get?" thing.   Every year since Rhonda and I were kids...Mom would ALWAYS buy for us equally.  As the years went on and Rhonda and I got older, well, the same things didn't always make sense..soooooooooo...if Rhonda got jewelry...I got jewelry...if I got clothes Rhonda got clothes...and so on.  It became a funny tradition that Rhonda and I would watch what each other got and tease Mom and say..."Why didn't you buy me one of those?"  and we would sometimes joke about swapping...but, never did because Mom always knew EXACTLY what we wanted.  We would always show Dad what we got too...because Mom did all the shopping...and Dad enjoyed seeing what we got to.  So, the "What'd you get?" phrase that Rhonda and I joked with Mom about...will always be remembered as our own little tradition of showing Mom how much we enjoyed her generosity (Dad's too)...and keep our childhood joys of Christmas with us forever.   Mom....I pray that you knew...that the greatest gift you gave us was your unconditional love and adoration.  I knew it Mom...I knew it...I felt it...and I will carry your love with me in the depths of my heart and soul for eternity and a day.  "What'd I get?"  The love of a precious mother...who loved me in a way that no other person would ....you...Mom...is what a Mother's love is all about, and I am forever blessed to be your daughter and the receiver of your love.