'TIS THE SEASON

I FIND FAMILY HOLIDAY TRADITIONS DATE BACK YEARS AND YEARS.  MY CHILDHOOD HOLIDAY TRADITIONS CENTERED AROUND GOING TO GRANDMA'S HOUSE.  MY GRANDMA WAS CHRISTMAS!  SHE HAD THE TRADITION OF PUTTING UP HER CHRISTMAS TREE ON DECEMBER 15TH, HER BIRTHDAY, EVERY YEAR, AND SHE PLANNED AND WORKED ON CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR LONG, SPECIALIZING IN HAND MADE GIFTS TO GIVE.

SO WHAT KIND OF HOLIDAY TRADITIONS DOES AN OLD RV GRINCH LIKE REX HAVE THESE DAYS?  SO FAR AWAY FROM FAMILY, AND WORKING IN THE CASINO DURING THE HOLIDAYS, THE ANSWER ALLUDES ME.

IN FACT I CAN'T THINK OF SINGLE CURRENT HOLIDAY TRADITION.  MARY AND I DON'T EVEN SURPRISE EACH OTHER WITH GIFTS. 

OVER THE PAST YEARS I USED TO BUY A PIECE OF LIMBURGER CHEESE AT CHEESDAYS IN MONROE, SEAL IT IN A JAR, AND KEEP IT IN THE FRIDGE UNTIL THE HOLIDAYS TO ENJOY.  OF COURSE I HAVEN'T BEEN TO CHEESEDAYS AND MONROE FOR AWHILE.  IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AND DELIGHT WHEN I FOUND A PIECE OF LIMBURGER CHEESE AT MY LOCAL SAFEWAY STORE DELI?

THE LIMBURGER MUST HAVE BEEN SITTING IN SAFEWAY'S STORAGE FOR AWHILE AS IT HAD A NICE AGED FLAVOR TO IT.  SUSIE-Q, THE CAT, TOOK ONE SNIFF, TURNED UP HER NOSE, AND LEFT ME ALONE.  IT WAS THE REAL THING, ALTHOUGH PRIVATE LABELED, IT WAS MADE IN WISCONSIN.  THERE IS ONLY ONE CHEESE FACTORY IN THE UNITED STATES THAT MAKES LIMBURGER, CHALET CHEESE.

MY OTHER HOLIDAY TRADITION WOULD BE MY WEAKNESS FOR EGGNOG.

THANK GOODNESS THIS IS A SEASONAL ITEM, I LOVE IT !!!

WHAT ARE YOUR HOLIDAY TRADITIONS?