In the morning

my best friends and I continued the celebration by singing and dancing.

All the mothers and grandmothers spend days preparing all kinds of dishes

and deserts for families and friends that might visit on Christmas day.

Everyone in the community rich and poor celebrates Christmas. People laughing,

smiling, and singing everywhere. Everybody loves everybody. Gifts are

not important. We do not value gifts as much as we value our families

and friends. We treasure the gathering of all people. I truly missed this

kind of Christmas celebration.

Now I am married

and have my own family. Our way of celebrating Christmas is quite different

than the way I was used to. It makes me delighted to see my children happy.

We still go to midnight mass, we sing Christmas songs, buy presents, give

and receive gifts, but deep down in my heart I am very sad. The Christmas

memories of my yesterdays are very much alive in my heart.

The last Christmas

I had with my family back home (Philippines) was in 1988. The laughing,

singing, and crying brought back our childhood Christmas memories. Our

children never understand why that there were so much tears involved during

this celebration. We tried to explain and share our experiences and beautiful

Christmas memories.

Last week I

received a letter from my sister. She wrote all about our past joyous

Christmas we all spent together. It hurts deeply in my heart. If I only

have my way of celebrating Christmas, I would love very much to be with

my brother and sisters. Now Christmas is nearing; I began to feel homesick

for my brother and sisters.

Whenever I

am driving alone in my van, I play the music over and over again at a

high volume; it has all the Christmas songs that remind me of my yesterdays.

While listening to these beautiful songs, my eyes are filled with tears.

This is my way of releasing my loneliness for families, friends, and my

birthplace.

Yesterday's

experience is so very special that I will never forget it as long as I

live. I will always treasure this in a lifetime of memories in my heart.

Teresita T.

Jones

Fayetteville

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