Erie, PA

A snow vista of the Aunt Kitty and Uncle Ron's house.

They were nice (Insane!) enough to house the

Memphis Stephanys over the holidays.

The rest of the holiday was spent with the usual Stephany family traditions. Christmas Eve is spent at Stephany’s Catering. I really can not imagine another way to spend Christmas Eve in Erie. The Catering Place holds so many fold childhood memories. Practically every family gathering, and there were many, was spent there. Significant events like first communions, weddings, wedding anniversaries, and graduation parties. My first job, cutting grass and generally doing whatever my Grandpa said. I remember my first real kiss at a mixer, a dance that my cousins used to host. A mixer is a dance for middle school kids, with a DJ, and lots of music from the 80’s. Octoberfests that my parents used to have where I had my younger cousins, who were about 10 or 11 at the time, grab pitchers of beers for me and my friends. All they had to say if they were confronted with a pitcher was, “We are getting it for Uncle Mike”, and they were in the clear.

AJ and CJ were the most popular Stephanys over the holidays

Jillian working the ice machine behind the bar at the Stephany's Catering

The funerals of Uncle Jack and Grandpa Stephany were also held at the catering place. Ironically enough all of our events have the following constants; eating, drinking, laughing, crying, and family. I knew how to tap a keg well before I even wanted to drink beer (A veeerrry long time ago) My Aunt Sue jokes that when a keg runs out at a family function our clan looks like a NASCAR pit crew when we acquire and hook up another keg.

In this day and age with families so spread out across the country there are not many people lucky enough to grow up in this manner. My first friends were my family. In many ways, my experiences growing up were a bit like a fairy tale.

Grandma Stephany, Jeff, Aunt Patty and Buff share the holiday cheer.

I digress, Christmas Eve was spent talking, eating, drinking, and just basically hanging out. We played a fun gift exchange game that we have done the last few years. Grandpa Stephany gave us all gifts that made us all weepy. Her and the Goat, (Aunt Mary) went through old photo books, closets, and gave us keep sakes. There were old pictures and memorabilia. We all had a great time.

*See note below

*So we all play this "Dirty Santa"or "White Elephant". It usually entails "discussing" the rules until we are confused and then we play. This year Grandma thought the gifts were supposed to be gag gifts so she gave a twin pack of enemas. The funny thing is that is was the only gag gift and cousin Jeff opened it last. Hilarious, only in the Stephany Family does Grandma give the gag gift if enemas!