Favorite Christmas’ – Charlie Brown Tree

I was maybe sixteen? fifteen? Either way, Chris and I went to San Diego to spend Christmas with Mom. Of course, that meant the added benefit of being with Grandma and Grandpa Pagliaro! Of course, that meant that spaghetti was waiting for us when we arrived :-)

We got there and it was very close to Christmas. Just a day or two maybe three. We needed a tree! Turns out, everyone was pretty much sold out. We ended up getting a Charlie Brown Tree! At least, it was brown!! It was maybe 3 feet tall with just a hint of green. We covered that thing with tinsel and ornaments and made it look like a Christmas Tree.  Best part was, it proved that being with family was way more important than the pomp of Christmas. Besides, we had a LOT of fun with it!

Spaghetti

I remember being a kid and going to visit Grandma and Grandpa and looking forward to a great big plate of spaghetti! Grandma’s sauce was the best! After all, she was born in Sicily and made the sauce her whole life.

As I grew older, I realized I wanted to learn how to make the sauce my own self. I asked Grandma for the recipe. Not only did she provide the recipe, but actual one on one instruction on some of the finer points. I think I was 21 or 22 when I really started making the sauce on a regular basis. I remember once having a party and making two or three batches for everyone. Of course, when I got married, it was something I made for the family regularly. After my divorce I made the sauce often when Michael would spend the night or the weekend. One time he gave me the best compliment ever.

“Hey Dad, you should open a restaurant.”

“I only know how to make four things.” I said.

“Yeah, but they are all good!”

After my divorce, my ex-wife once said, “Your sauce is the only thing I miss about you!” She was joking… I think :-)

Michael gets upset when I share the recipe. Last night I was over at friends and brought the sauce. My friend Matt was very kind and said nice things about the sauce. His wife Mary and our Pastors wife wanted the recipe, so of course I passed it on. Don’t tell Michael!

I’ve taught my daughter Amber how to make it. Michael has the recipe as well. The sauce lives on!

I guess next time it’s time to make the meatballs. Those are awfully good too!