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Every family has their own set of traditions during the holidays. Some are long-standing rites of passage filled with meaning and sentiment. Others are just good silly fun. Around here we are not without our fair share of Christmas traditions.

One Sincere Tree!

One Sincere Tree!My wife and I always get our tree from the Cosley Zoo, a tiny but extremely adorable free admission zoo just down the street from us. We go there because the money raised from the trees helps pay for food and exhibits at the zoo and the trees, to paraphrase Charles M. Schulz, seem more sincere than any others. On that tree we hang many unorthodox ornaments, mostly penguins and frogs, and a little piece of her childhood; plastic, glow-in-the-dark icicles. I always light the tree but the person who chooses the tree alternates year by year, a tradition started in my family.

These are standard practices in our home and we are always comforted by their regularity. When fun new traditions emerge we embrace them. Of course there are some customs that were around long before our marriage occurred and they too must be honored and respected, even if they make no sense to anyone else.

As an example, my younger brother, Matt, and I always drive SOMEWHERE on Christmas Day. We take the toll ways and always be sure to use the manual lanes. Why? A long time back we’d decided that if you are working in a small booth on an interstate on Christmas you need a little pick-me-up. Our solution? After paying our toll we scream, “MERRY CHRISTMAS” very loudly to the attendant, imitating James Stewart from “It’s A Wonderful Life”. It is always amusing, sometimes frightening, rarely annoying. We just do this for fun and we’ll never stop. However this can’t quite compare to the simple journey Matt & I make every year around Christmas.

Photo By Dr. Don

Photo By Dr. DonOn Christmas Eve I took part in what has become a long-standing holiday heritage for me and Matt. For MANY years now we head on over to Booby's Charcoal Rib at 8161 N. Milwaukee in Niles, Illinois for the single greatest steak sandwich money can buy. If you will indulge me, I’ll describe the sandwich.