dear internettie-webbie-kins,

i'm stuck in a bad spot and need some ideas. i was asked to do centerpieces for 2 tables at a women's church christmas dinner, the theme being, "the christmas i remember most." i'm stressing out about it in the worst kind of way and am having a hard time keeping the proper attitude about it. i'm sure for most people reflecting on christmas's of yore and picking out the very best wouldn't be that difficult. but for me, i have three vivid christmas memories:

1) the year my dad left 2 weeks before christmas, never speaking to me until after he was gone.

2) we always had very meager christmas celebration growing up. when i was in the eighth grade i asked for a paddle brush. it seemed to me that all of the beautiful and popular girls had one and would brush their hair in the middle of class, i wanted more than anything to be seen as desirable (as i think that most 13 year olds do). i received three gifts that year, i don't even remember what the others were. but when i opened up that brush, my dad laughed and said, "there's your dog brush.

3) when i was 2 or 3 we were so poe that my parents had decided that christmas wasn't going to happen. i was young enough to be happy with no presents really. as my memory serves a few days before christmas a little girl in the neighborhood died, and all of the presents that were bought for her, were brought over to my house for me. i remember a doll and a carriage and a whole lot of pink. but i remember, despite my age, feeling guilt.

so my question to you is this, do i:
a) make up some awful centerpiece with hair brushes and caskets?
b) lie about my childhood memories and do a traditional christmas-y centerpiece?
c) use the happy christmas remembrances of my own children?

i do have memories of playing board games on christmas day.
i do remember that despite how poor we were, we ALWAYS had a secret santa that brought gifts and food to the house.
i do remember our christmas kick-off, decorating the house, baking goodies, listening to nat king cole.
but the christmas i remember most? . . . . .

am i the only one that has such awful christmas memories? please share, i want to hear your three most memorable christmas's for good or for bad. i've got until tuesday to pull these centerpieces together!

love,
jenica