ON MY SOAPBOX
BY JASON HENNINGTON
This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington. This is NOT the opinion of the Taylor Press.
What did you get for Christmas when you were eight? What about when you were 14? What about in 2020?
Many people can’t answer these questions. But I bet they can tell you who baked cookies for Santa or how they helped decorate the house for Christmas.
I don’t remember everything that was under the tree growing up, but I remember me and my siblings waking up around 2:30 a.m. to open presents. We were always told to go back to bed, only to wake up about an hour or two later asking again.
I also remember the times my dad had to work, so we would either get up when he was headed out or pretended to be asleep until he came in the front door.
I’m sure all kids have done this, and some probably still do. When they’re in their 50s and 60s, they’ll remember that, but they may not remember the toy they unwrapped.
Although, I do remember when we got our Nintendo. We played Super Mario Bros until it was time to leave my grandparents’ house. I also remember my dad talking about how bad we were at Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out. That’s not a bad memory. In fact, it’s something I think about whenever I play a boxing video game now.
I won’t talk about him playing Bulls vs. Blazers on Super Nintendo some years later and seeing one of his college foes on the game.
For the last 11 years, my back hurts a few days because I lift my two children up on my shoulders to put the star and an ornament on top of the tree.
The tree is only about 5-feet tall, and my 12-year-old, Jasmine, can reach the top with no problem. Tiana can get to about the middle of the tree, so she still needs some help reaching the top.
Since Jasmine was one, we have had this tradition and it’s something she never forgets.
Once Tiana came along, I added her to the tradition and she loves it. My plan is to continue the tradition forever.
Regardless of what Santa puts under the tree, my girls will always remember sitting on my shoulders putting the star and an ornament on the tree.
I asked Jasmine what she got for Christmas last year, and she couldn’t remember all of it. I asked her about the star tradition and she remembered her argument not to lift her up in front of family members because she thought I would drop her and we would both get hurt. She also remembers me not listening and still lifting her up.
I asked Tiana what she got for Christmas last year, and she grabbed a box a toy came in. She doesn’t remember what the toy was or if she even still had it, but she knew it was in a box. She did, however, remember her technique to hold onto my arm, climb up my back and onto my shoulders.
While it comes with a little collateral damage to my back, these are the types of memories I want to create with my family.
When Jasmine is 40, Tiana is 35 and I am however old that makes me, we will be able to talk about the first time I held them on my shoulders to put up the star. They will remember when they were taller than the tree, but I was still adamant about still putting them on my shoulders.
Even at that age, I’ll still talk about when Santa brought presents to them – because I will never tell them he is not real – and they may only remember a few.
It’s easy to ask for gifts you want in the moment. But, it’s even easier to create memories. It’s the little, subtle things that you remember, not the name brand or expensive item you receive.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
“The most beautiful things are not associated with money; they are memories and moments. If you don’t celebrate those, they can pass you by.”
— Alek Wek
