Tradition
Decades ago,
I and a few friends arrived for a Holiday dinner at the iconic Chicago
restaurant, The Pump Room. Our table was
not yet ready so we had to wait, but the establishment seated us at the bar
where we could enjoy a chanteuse, and a small plate of French fries and a flute
of Champagne they gave each of us. Not only was this a gracious gesture, but
that particular combination was inspired. These disparate things are made to be
together, perfectly. That time and taste
made an impression on me that was to spawn a Christmas tradition that has twined
generations.
In the 90’s,
a friendship with train commute buddy
Mike and his wife Petra led to my invitation to their home for Christmas tree
trim with their family. We were having
red wine as I remarked of my Pump Room experience. It sparkled. We decided the next year that is
what we would do at tree trim. It became
the year after, and year after that, and so on. Years passed.
More years
and the Children married and all the family moved to Colorado with their own
homes and families. But the tradition
stayed with them all. Every year I hear
from Mike and Petra, and now Michelle and Andrew, and Tim and Gianna. Each year’s trees are trimmed with a lasting
memory of me as they mark the occasion with Champagne and French fries.
This year I
just got a video message from Tim and Gianna’s young son Tyler alongside their daughter seated at a
table with a newly cut tree standing in the background, waiting. They had paused to send me a message,
“Hi, we want to tell you we are having Champagne (sparkling
grape juice) and fries putting stuff on the tree. Thank you for starting this.
We love you Uncle Jerry.”
