There've been a number of important holidays that have passed since I've been deployed, but Christmas is definately becoming the most difficult one for me. Growing up, my family had a ritual of traditions adhered to nearly every year at Christmas, traditions I've come to miss even more this year.
My parents always did a wonderful job when my brother Matthew and I were little, to make the holdays seem enchanted while also stressing the importance of family and the meaning of the season. December was always full of little events, forever ingrained on my memory. Every year marked the beginning of a new search for my mother to find the perfect ornament for my brother and I, an ornament that would serve as a time capsule for us in the years ahead. She would always seem to find the perfect symbol for my interests or endeavors that year. I remember when I was six, it was a bulb with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on it, and even into college, she had miniature ornaments of a soldier or the engraved glass ornaments that my college fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, sold. She used to say she had collected these for us and would give them to us when we got married.
Aside from the ornaments and setting up the Christmas decorations around the house, we always had our Christmas Eve and Christmas day traditions. My brother and I could always expect to open one gift on Christmas Eve. For as long as I can remember, my mother had matching pajamas for my brother and I to wear that night. Some years, the whole family had matching pajamas. After opening them, we always tried to pursuade her to let us open one more, but she rarely caved in to our demands. After we had changed, we would set out the cookies for Santa and head to bed.
The morning ritual was played out yearly, as my mom would wait with us when we were children at the end of the hall as my father went into the living room and turned on the lights on the Christmas tree, lit the fireplace and set the video camera up on the tripod. We would all open our gifts and then turn to our stockings. The handmade matching stockings were always stuffed with smaller items and always included an orange and the holiday box of Lifesavers. Snacking on the candy while we played with our new toys, my dad would go to the kitchen and make breakfast for the family, and after eating we would all sit down to watch movies. Sometimes I feel like I had the best childhood in the world, any given year would have provided Rockwell with a perfect setting.
Even though things change the older you get, my mother always found a way to keep pieces of our traditions alive. She continued supplying my brother and I with a new set of pajamas on Christmas Eve, and I can remember my father year after year making a feast of a breakfast. These images struck me the other day when I opened a care package from my mom. She had sent a bunch of Christmas stockings for me to pass out to soldiers who hadn't received anything in a while. As I reached for my stocking, it was filled with items I never expected to get when I was a kid. Packages of baby wipes and boot insoles and other items soldiers need, but at the bottom was a box of Lifesavers with the holiday decoration. It immediately took me back home, and made me wish the holidays were a little different this year.
Living in tents provides a sharp realization that this year there will be no home for the holidays. I won't say I prefer it this way, but I can say that next year I will appreciate the people in my life more than I ever have. You gain a profound sense of just how important your family is when they are so far away. This year, the only thing I hope for is that all of you enjoy and appreciate your time with friends and family to the utmost. Remember, there are 150,000 people here in OIF alone that would love to be in your position, and although we would rather be home, each of us in our own way is offering a gift to you by sacrificing our holidays and traditions in the name of freedom.
Sgt. Missick,
Let me just tell you that at least one family (and I know there are many, many more) is aware of and appreciates you incredible sacrifice. Like I've said in the comments here before, I have 2 little ones, and every night when I tuck them in I think about you guys and your sacrifice and how very very grateful I am. Please let the others that you work with know that we care and we are concerned for you and your safety and we are so grateful for the peace and freedom you are willing to fight for.
Posted by: texasbug | December 20, 2004 at 06:16 AM
Thank you, Chris. And Merry Christmas. Wherever you are.
Posted by: Crowe | December 20, 2004 at 07:35 AM
Sgt. Missick,
I just wanted to thank you for writing this piece. My boyfriend left for Iraq the day after Thanksgiving and he is having a tough time missing home as I can tell from this entry that you are. Thank you so much for serving.. I know you have been over there for a long time.. too long.. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.. and thanks again.. I hope that one of these days I can serve next to you.. I just finished boot camp this past Friday.. Reading your blog makes me even more proud to serve and more proud of those I serve with.
Stay Safe and Come Home Soon. :)
Posted by: Hope | December 20, 2004 at 08:45 AM
Chris,
I love reading your pieces, you give me much to ponder and I enjoy hearing your perspective.
Your traditions sound so much like what I did with my son. Last year he was in Baghdad for Christmas and wrote an email to his entire address book saying basically the same kinds of things and asking for thoughts and prayers for the 150,000 soldiers doing their jobs during the holidays. He titled it "Always Look at the Bright Side of Life" He died January 23rd and this year you have helped me to look at the bright side of life. Thank you and Merry Christmas Chris, from the other side of the world.
"God Bless You all and keep you safe, and speed your way back home.
Remember that we love you so, and that you're not alone.
The gift you give you share with all, a present every day,
You give the gift of liberty and that we can't repay."
The Sands of Christmas
by Michael Marks.
Posted by: Bon | December 20, 2004 at 09:35 AM
Ahh, the break in tradition, as you say, makes it special.
Spent a Christmas alone once, without even the likes of the group you have there. Woke up, thinking breakfast would be at the 24/365 7/11 - only to find the sign proclaiming that prominent above a chain on the door.
Cookies - processed - were lunch.
Rest assured, the spirit of the day wins out, wherever you may be.
Posted by: Ed Jones | December 20, 2004 at 11:24 AM
Greetings - Thank You again for your really great blog. I read it every day. You seem to have a sensible outlook on your life. At this time of year we all think of family, and the real meaning of Christmas. Thank You for everything you do to help us be safe in our homes. Millions of Americans are thinking about you and praying to God to watch over and protect you. Bless you all and thanks for what you do. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Ron Henderson, Greenwood, MO
Posted by: Ron | December 20, 2004 at 12:52 PM
Hmm...you just made me wish Christmas was today instead of on Saturday. :)
Posted by: Hidden Nook | December 20, 2004 at 03:42 PM
Matching pajamas?! Too cute!
Posted by: Hollywood Girl in VA Beach | December 20, 2004 at 03:58 PM
Chris - thank you for the gift of your service in protecting my freedom. I'm sorry you are missing the family traditions so much. There's not much I can say to cheer you up. Thank you for this sacrifice and that of your Mom and Dad and brother. Although you can't be home - I'm sure you're family has no one but you on their minds and hearts right now. Merry Christmas. Get home safe.
Posted by: Kathleen A | December 20, 2004 at 05:57 PM
Sgt. Missick
Thank you for your blogs, I so look forward to reading them. Merry Chrismas to you all, my son included. God bless each of you and look out for each other.
A Soldier's Mom
Posted by: Rita Herda | December 20, 2004 at 07:23 PM
Aww, now ya got me crying, Sarge! Merry Christmas and God Bless you! Tootles.
Posted by: ViolinDuchess | December 20, 2004 at 07:53 PM
Sgt. Missick
Thank you for your story, last year we must of sent 10 boxs of christmas stuff to our daughter and her unit in North Iraq. This year I felt I needed to do something for a soldier. I adopted a Marine and sent him a box. I pray for the safe return of all our Soldiers.
This Christmas I will spend it making breakfast for my wife, daughter and 6 month old Granddaughter.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
USN Retired
Posted by: Ernie | December 21, 2004 at 10:49 AM
The bomb today in Mosul may have been where the MY WAR (CB) poster was. What a horrible thing to go through. I recall his posts about random mortar attacks, and how uncomfortable it was to wear protective gear to go eat a meal. It would be a horrible loss for such a good writer to die young. But I guess that could be said about every other American casualty.
This is the closest connection I have to people in Iraq, daily reading of soldier blogs. I hope he is alright.
Posted by: Jason | December 21, 2004 at 07:09 PM
Chris, A very merry christmas to you. Next Christmas will be just that much sweeter for you and your family!
I have made ornaments for my children every year -- painting details of their year (first car accident. braces on, braces, off, graduations, etc.) and they get them when they marry! Our soldier will be here for Christmas this year but moves to the Box soon... I'm postponing our Christmas next year until he is home with us again!
God Bless you and all who serve!!
Posted by: Noah's Mom | December 21, 2004 at 09:36 PM
I love reading your blogs...i hope you have a Merry Chritmas and i pray for all of you over there including my boyfriend! Be Safe and God Bless
A Soldier's Girlfriend
Posted by: Amanda Wymer | December 22, 2004 at 08:12 PM
I think this site is a wonderful thing that you have put together. All of you troops over there are in our prayers. Thank you for what you are doing for us. My boyfriend is over there also and I can only pray that he comes home safe as well. Know that I pray for all the troops over there everynight. God Bless You All and Thank You for defending the one thing we are blessed to have-FREEDOM. GOD BLESS THE USA!!!
Posted by: Danielle Barker | December 22, 2004 at 08:26 PM
Love your Christmas memories. I am sorry you are missing your family right now. I have a young family and I am busy sewing those matching pj pants today! Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
Posted by: wendy | December 23, 2004 at 06:15 AM
I just wanted to write a quick note, to let you know my family and myself are thinking of you and all the other soldiers that are not going to be with their families this year.
I have 2 cousins and one of my best friends who just came back from Iraq but, however I am afraid that 1 cousin and my best friend is going to end up returning.
I do wish all of you the best, and hope that you all have a merry christmas.
I know what you mean by getting the life savers. I am now 24 yrs. old and am married with a young daughter. My mother still does the stockings, but now she gets to do 2 extra ones.
Another one of my christmas memories is that my father would always set my brother and I down on the couch and read "The Night Before Christmas" and "The Christmas Story" from the bible to us. We would get our blankets and a pillow and just sit there as quiet as a mouse watching my father read to us by a small lamp beside our christmas tree.
That is something that I will never forget and plan to carry on with my family.
I do believe that FAMILY is very important especially around the Holiday's. If you or any other fellow soldiers happen to need anything, please feel free to email me and I will do my best to help.
After all it is better to give than to receive. In this case I am already receiving a great deal from you soldiers. More than any care box could ever repay.
God Bless you all and have a safe and MERRY CHRIST-MAS!!!!
Posted by: Justina | December 14, 2005 at 10:32 AM