I burnt the bacon

I put the bacon in the oven and went upstairs to get dressed. Ginger said "I smell the bacon" and I rushed downstairs. It was not quite done so I flipped it and turned up the oven. This is the first Christmas I can remember where Ginger and I are not with family or traveling to be with family on Christmas day. For some reason as I stood there "watching" the bacon, I began to think about Christmas past as a child.  Immediately, my thoughts went to Uncle Frank and Aunt Janet's house. There were very few Christmas's that we did not go there.  The row-home was packed with people, cigarette smoke and the smell of burnt gravy.  My parents rarely made me eat everything on my plate but I had to at Aunt Janet's house. Just this year I (over 6o years later) I started eating Brussel sprouts. The ones I had there initiated a gag reflex when I thought of them. They were not necessarily cooked wrong it's just they were … well… Brussel sprouts and I hated them. One might think as I tell this memory it was a dreadful experience.  However, I always looked forward to it and I treasure those memories now.  Perhaps it was because we got some more presents. Maybe it was the chance to get out of the house and go somewhere on Christmas day.  It could have been the excellent Christmas pies I enjoyed (only if I ate my Brussel sprouts).  As I recall now those days, I think it had more to do with things like the genuine excitement Uncle Frank had when we came. He loved us and just wanted to see us.  It was the special times with my cousins sneaking upstairs to play some game or beg to take the dog for a walk to get away from the smoke and close quarters. We would catch up on who had a boyfriend or girlfriend. I am certain I enjoyed a bit of teasing and agitating my younger cousins. As I relive these memories now a melancholy/nostalgia mood settles into my soul. Sad because I miss my family. Wistful because it was such a soulful time. Our family may have been a bit dysfunctional but there was love, a bit of joy and some really fun times sprinkled throughout.  As I reminisce, I am standing two feet away from the oven. I burnt the bacon. Oh well, it was worth it. 
I am so grateful to God for my family. They introduce me to Jesus. I remember Uncle Frank quoting the gospel of John to me.  Grandma on her death bed reciting John 3:16. We are truly blessed and I hope you too sense and know that blessing especially today as we celebrate the incarnation of our Savior  
Merry Christmas family and especially to my cousins!