The format of a My Take is 150 words – no more, no less – to express an opinion on a different topic each week. This week’s topic was memories.
When I was younger Christmas Eve was spent with my grandparents, surrounded by family, sitting by the fireplace with my sister, roasting chestnuts and drinking hot chocolate.
While my sister and I sat by the fire, tossing in old newspapers and watching as it shrivelled up in the flames, the adults hunkered down on the couch, chatting and smoking cigarettes.
It was a different time. I remember one year I smacked a cigarette out of my dad’s hand, burning my index finger in the process. Needless to say, I never did that again.
But what I remember the most from those years is the excitement my sister and I had when we were finally allowed to pick a gift from under the tree.
The rule was we had to stay up until midnight. In hindsight, I think my parents hoped we would just fall asleep.
