As I got older I started to understand the story more and appreciate how beautiful Dickens' words are. There was one year that we all decided to memorize the first paragraph of the book, which we can all do I'm proud to say. Every year my dad tears up in the same place in the final stave and every year I can't wait to start reading again.
As all of us began getting older, moving away, and getting married, my dad thought it would be a great idea to get each of us our own copy of the same edition of A Christmas Carol. However, it was out of print. So he got on ebay and found four copies. One for each child to continue on the tradition in our own families.
It's been wonderful to continue on this great tradition in my own little family with Bryce. I'm not sure he fully appreciates it yet, but I think he will eventually. It still feels a little weird not to listen to my dad reading every night, but I just love the fact that I can re-create a childhood memory every year, no matter where I am.
P.S. I go home in 3 days!
What a great tradition! I just started reading Dickens for the holidays too, but I went for love triangles and guillotines with A Tale of Two Cities, four days BEFORE Oprah announced it as her next book club pick, mind you. Have a fabulous time in Utah! Amber is trying to rangle Nathan into coming up to Reno for New Year's Eve. I think you might be back in Texas by then, but I think you and Bryce should still pop on over anyway because I miss you dearly.
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