Christmas turned out to be as tumultuous as the rest of 2020 with an enforced CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT. With none of the family flying due to COVID-19, we enjoyed the company of my sister, Jane, and her husband, Bob, who joined us from their winter quarters on the Gulf Coast. As part of a traditional Christmas Eve celebration, Jane was preparing her classic Swedish meatballs in cream gravy over egg noodles with lingonberry sauce. About 6pm, a strong squall with gusty winds and heavy rain blew through Gainesville, the lights flickered a couple of times and then all went dark. The utility company informed us that we would regain power at 1pm Christmas Day. So, consistent with Swedish customs, we broke out the candles to prepare and serve the festive meal, assisted by a gas stove unaffected by the outage. The traditional jul dinner was luscious, accompanied by a bottle of Merlot wine and hand-painted almond cookies for dessert. Never was the conversation more lively and warm. Everyone snuggled under the covers as the cold front of freezing air overtook our electric-unheated house. I awake early the next morning to start the stovetop burners for hot water to make coffee for Christmas breakfast of bagels with lox and cream cheese and nut breads, a considerable downgrade from the blueberry pancakes as planned. In the middle of breakfast, the lights came on, the sun came out and Christmas proceeded as if nothing had happened. The Christmas ham and all the fixin’s featured a Gamay wine from Oregon and a pie made from my Key limes for dessert. It was certainly a merry and memorable Christmas!
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