~ Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten<\/em><\/p>\n I am fortunate this year to be spending time with my family, who will gather at Bob’s home on Christmas Eve, to partake in a family talent show<\/strong> (this ought to be good!), share delicious food, and bask in the company of people I love. Of course, there is an empty chair this year, but there is joy to be found<\/strong> in the company of family and friends, and that is something to be celebrated, especially at the holidays.\u00a0 I wish all of you a very happy holiday season.<\/p>\n One tradition I will always maintain is providing you with Pop’s Christmas Ice Cream Fizz<\/strong> recipe.\u00a0 I hope you enjoy it as much as our family has over the years.\u00a0 There is nothing like a little gin to make the holidays the slightest bit more fun!<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A jolly man indeed<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n POP\u2019S CHRISTMAS ICE CREAM FIZZ<\/strong><\/p>\n Fill a blender 1\/4 full of ice cubes<\/p>\n Add 6 jiggers of gin<\/p>\n Add 4 scoops of French Vanilla ice cream<\/p>\n Add 1 small bottle of soda water (the size you get in a 6-pack)<\/p>\n My brother Bob adds an egg, so the white adds some froth, brother Jack doesn\u2019t add an egg. \u00a0Personally, I\u2019d add it just because you can then claim it\u2019s a protein drink.<\/p>\n Just blend it well and \u2013\u00a0voila \u2013\u00a0<\/em>you have a concoction sure to put a positive spin on everyone and everything!<\/p>\n Our mom served them in a wine glass with a dash of nutmeg. \u00a0As we got older, we would conspire with Pop and ditch the wine glass for a chilled beer mug from the freezer. Saved having to go back for seconds\u2026or thirds.<\/p>\n Happy Holidays!!\u00a0 I’ll see you in 2024!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Suzanne Sparrow Watson I know what I really want for Christmas. I want my childhood back.\u00a0Nobody is going to give me that. I might give at least the memory of it to myself if I try. I know it … read more![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/tired-mom-300x169.jpg\")
<\/a>This time of year it’s easy to get caught up in the frazzle<\/strong> of preparing for the holidays.\u00a0 As Erma Bombeck once wrote: time, self-pity, apathy, bitterness and exhaustion can take the Christmas out of you.\u00a0 She summed up the sentiment by saying, “There is nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” By the time we reach middle age we see the holidays differently – it becomes just more work, heaped on top of an already hectic life.<\/strong> We realize that the wonderful Christmas memories from our childhood were produced by parents who worked overtime, shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, hosting and entertaining.\u00a0 And once it is our turn to produce a holiday to remember, we long to be a child at Christmas again, when it’s all just wonder and magic.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Christmas-kids-300x144.jpg\")
<\/a>Over the past few years I have found something that works for me to bring a bit of that childhood magic back: I simplify Christmas.<\/strong>\u00a0 I no longer send out cards, as I stay in touch with most everyone on my list through email or in person.\u00a0 Heck, some of them I see multiple times a week.\u00a0 They don’t need Christmas greetings from me in the form of paper.\u00a0 The biggest change is that most of my family and all of my friends now forego gift-giving<\/strong>.\u00a0 Of course, we still buy something for the children – half the fun of the holiday is watching kids open presents, hoping your gift puts a smile on their faces.\u00a0 But for everyone else we take pleasure in time spent together, whether over a meal or a cup of coffee.\u00a0 None of us need more “stuff”<\/strong> and nothing we buy on Amazon can match the gift of a hug.\u00a0 I highly recommend paring down on the holiday prep – it can do wonders for your spirit.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fromabirdseyeview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pop-234x300.jpg\")
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