Traditions start with happenstance…a rare post from The Todd!

Erin (and sometimes The Todd) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:06:02 +0000

A long time ago someone dried a wishbone from the Thanksgiving turkey and a few weeks later stood toe to toe with someone they loved and made a wish. Another person saw a pretty girl standing under the mistletoe–which was added only to accent the greenery, by happenstance–and a smooch was performed. To excuse his brazen behavior, he improvised with “It’s a tradition to kiss anyone standing under the mistletoe, didn’t you know?” Brilliant! “Yeah…it’s a tradition.”

This is how it starts. Most families have a tradition unique to their clan. For instance, after the kids go to bed, you might wrap presents together by the fire, sipping eggnog along with a slice of Razzleberry pie–which you forced the kids to lay out for Santa. (Because Santa’s going to hurl if he sees one more cookie.)

The year I fell in love with Erin, Christmas was at hand. So, for no reason when I cut the bottom ring off the trunk of our Christmas tree, I set it aside by happenstance. I showed it to my wife with the initials “T hearts E” and the year. I told Erin we’d add a slice from every Christmas tree to remind us of another year’s passing (and the fact that we are the only ones who can put up with each other.)

Every year, when we unpack the decorations, there it is. We’ve had to add ribbon because of it’s growing length. Somerings are big, some are small–accomodate our financial state of the time or the size of the home we were living in. I feel a sort of pride every year to add the newest piece of tradition by “happenstance.”

Todd and Erin "That Went Well..." » traditions

Traditions start with happenstance…a rare post from The Todd!