The sun was barely rising, Santa had come, and I leaped out of bed to get my parents up…
One of the things that makes holidays so special is the traditions our families keep. The morning rituals on Christmas Day, the traditional menu items our families look forward to each year, and those extra special little things we do that are unique to each of our families that get passed on from generation to generation.
But, something just as special as those family traditions is the birth of new ones. This year at the Shahoud house was one of those years where a new tradition was born. You see, I was listening to one of the SiriusXM Christmas channels about a week before Christmas where various celebrities were sharing some of their families’ traditions. One that really made an impression on me was where they would go around the dinner table and share a favorite Christmas memory. Right away, I said to myself we are going to start that this year.
It was Christmas morning. I couldn’t have been more than 7 years old. As usual, the sun was barely even rising before my little brother and I leaped out of bed to get our parents up. Santa had come and there were loads of presents under the tree! A sea of wrapping paper later, my brother and I were having so much fun amidst all the new toys. Then it happened. My dad said, “Hey Joseph, why don’t you go look under your bed? I think there might be one more thing there for you.”
I ran into my room, looked under my bed, and there it was. This amazing toy M16 rifle. It was awesome. It had a spring loaded charging handle that you pulled back to make it work. Tat-tat-tat-tat erupted from it with a pull of the trigger. It was the coolest toy I had received.
From that day on, I never got up on Christmas morning without first looking under my bed to see if there was something super-cool hidden there. That M16 was the first and last time my parents ever hid a Christmas present under my bed. But, that never stopped me from looking!
What’s your favorite Christmas memory?
Merry Christmas,
Joe Shahoud
Joe Shahoud is the owner and lead instructor at Safe Family Defense LLC, a firearms training academy that serves the greater Columbia, SC area specializing in pistol, concealed weapons permits, personal defense, and general education in personal safety. Visit their classes page to see what is available and enroll.
Joe is also the owner of Safe Family Safes, an online retailer that specializes in fast-access smart gun safes and other gear essential to the concealed carry lifestyle.
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