Family Traditions

I recently read a short Christmas story by Truman Capote and I quote, "It is fruitcake weather."


My grandmother and mother always had their fruitcakes made, wrapped in a cloth dipped in spirits, and stored in a cool place until Christmas. Because only Jim and I enjoy fruitcake, I no longer make them myself because the ones purchased are yummy and our family does not care for them.

Grandmother also had a Christmas cactus, as did my mother, so it was a given that I would have them in our home. Mine is in memory of my mother and when it blooms, I always think of her and the sacrifices she made to make my life better.

My white cactus blooms at Thanksgiving and again at Easter and my red Christmas cactus blooms closer to Christmas. I have never been able to figure out why they bloom at different times and the sequence never changes from year to year.

Attached is a picture of the white cactus in full bloom.