A Christmas Story – Part 2.

In Part 1 of this Christmas story, I talked about my annual Hobson-Williams Christmas tradition – a sacred event reserved for just 3 people.

But there is a tradition that I’ve had much longer than the H-W tradition, and that is Christmas with Vincent.

It started long, long ago – when we were just teenagers, in fact.  I met Vincent when I was a sophomore in high school, in theater class.  From that first day forward, we have been inseparable.  We have battled life’s disappointments together, stood by each other during every [one of my] failed relationships, battled illness together… we are like family, but better.

Initially, it was just driving around our neighborhood, listening to Christmas music and looking at lights… for a few hours.  Perhaps we’d get a shake from Sonic on our teenage budgets.  Simple as it was, I looked forward to it every year.

As we got older (and also as the neighborhood stopped decorating for Christmas), our tradition evolved into what became an annual excursion to Old Town Spring – a small “town” of shops and eateries unmarred by mass commercialism.  We go early in the morning, we walk from shop to shop all day, we take pictures in front of decorated gazebos.  We eat funnel cakes, buy candy from candy stores, and always leave room for the best burger in Texas (at Wunsche Bros. Cafe).

In the past several years we have shared this tradition with a few people.  My brother, Marcie, Danielle… it has not diminished.  But, there are limitations to sharing this event.  See… some traditions grow and change with time.  Others do not.

This tradition does not change.  We love it – Vincent, Danny and I, we love this tradition just the way it is.  To alter it would be met with a disgruntled reception from the guys, and from myself as well.  The sharing of this event can only go so far.  Marcie gets it.  Unfortunately, she can’t join us this year, but were she in town, she gets it.

Don’t mess with Texas…. and Don’t Mess with Old Town Spring.