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Couple Gives Gift Of Old-Fashioned Christmas

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By LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: December 3, 2008

Joanne M. Tracy of Sun City Center wrote an editorial, "What Ever Happened To Our Christmas?" in the late 1970s to vent her frustrations about the commercialization of Christmas.

Tracy, who plans to celebrate Christmas with family and friends in New Jersey, said she never expected little to change in 30 years.

"It's gotten worse," Tracy said. "It was still not even Halloween when my husband and I went shopping. We were inundated already with Christmas music and it was only October."

Tracy, who lives in Sun City Center with her husband, Joe, said she was upset when the politically correct phrase became "Happy Holidays," instead of "Merry Christmas." But she is even more annoyed with the focus on material gifts instead of gifts of the heart.

"I guess with the economy, retailers are becoming more determined to foster Christmas shopping so the ads, displays, music, came out earlier. I think we have lost the Christmas spirit of what this whole season is about."

Instead of purchasing expensive gifts for Christmas, Tracy said she encourages family and friends to exchange time.

"Nobody in our family is letting the downturn in the economy downturn Christmas. Christmas is more than presents," she said.

When her children were teenagers in the 1970s their aunt, Michelle Matthews, decided to make donations to charities in their names. At first the teenagers balked about not receiving presents, but Tracy used it as a chance to talk about the commercialization of Christmas.

Tracy said the couple lost two of their five children. They gather with their three children and two grandchildren for a traditional Christmas in New Jersey.

"What's important is the time you spend with people," she said. "I don't think you can put a price on your personal time whether visiting someone who is house bound or spending more time with your family. Your personal time is the most valuable gift you can give this time of year."

Of Italian descent, Tracy said Christmas Eve always involves a major feast.

Joe Tracy, who is of Irish descent, said he also looks forward to the time spent with family, making toasts and traveling in their recreation vehicle.

"To us Christmas is one great thing," he said. "Getting together with them family and old friends, we have a great time."

The couple has lived in SCC for 15 years, and belongs to the RV Club of Sun City Center.

"The first thing we do is take up eight bottles of wine," he said. "We have a big Christmas Eve party. We spend six, seven hours having wine, dinner. We take turns putting ornaments on the tree."

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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