It’s that time of year when the chill in the frosty air brings us indoors to hunker down with thick comforters and mugs of steaming hot chocolate overflowing with fluffy marshmallows. When holiday music and movies become the soundtrack to our everyday home lives. When we gather ‘round the fire for company, drink, food and love. When we are celebrating and remembering those we treasure and hold near and dear. When the real meaning of the season is family – by our DNA or by our heart. When we reflect and give thanks for all we have. In a nutshell, unconditional love.
I’d like to welcome Wendy Corsi Staub to share the beauty of the season with us.
Favorite Holiday tradition?
Christmas is a huge deal in my family, and we have so many it's hard to choose, so I'll pick the craziest (and perhaps most original) one: the whole family does a yearly Christmas Eve conga line around my childhood home to the Boston Pops' rendition of “Sleigh Ride”--my father is always in the lead with the youngest grandchild in his arms.
Favorite childhood toy?
My Jody the Country Girl Doll and Jody's Country Kitchen. I just found old home movies of the Christmas Santa left that for me--1976.
Favorite childhood game?
Manhunt (I loved a good mystery even then).
Snow ball fight or making snow families?
Snow ball fight = good cardio to burn off all that rum cake!
Sleigh rides, sledding or skiing?
All of the above!
Favorite Holiday song?
"Do They Know It's Christmas" by Band Aid. Gotta love the '80s, and my secret boyfriend Bono with a mullet in the video.
Favorite holiday movie?
The Homecoming, from 1970, with Patricia Neal playing Olivia--it later spawned the TV series The Waltons.
Favorite holiday story to read?
I love the Christmas chapters in all of the Little House books and reread them every year, along with Little Women and A Christmas Carol (if I have enough time).
Snow on holiday eve or just a chill in the air?
Definitely snow. I grew up in the snowbelt south of Buffalo. White Christmas all the way!
Most memorable holiday memory?
I met my husband at my office Christmas party in New York City in 1988. A few days later, we went on our first date, and then our second a day after that — which involved Christmas shopping and the Rockefeller Center tree — and I knew he was the one (I didn't tell him that, of course!). We got engaged almost exactly two years later, right before Christmas. December has always been magical for me. It's my favorite month of the year.
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