Keeping Tradition Alive

Every year since I was 2 years old, my mom and I have gone to see The Nutcracker ballet around Christmas time. We have seen The Nutcracker more than a dozen times in Colorado and we have seen it in Las Vegas, New York City, Chicago and even Toronto! It truly doesn’t feel like Christmas until we are both seated in a darkened theater and the first notes of the classic Tchaikovsky masterpiece ring through the audience.

It wasn’t until August and I was already in Chicago for YAGM orientation that I came to the crushing realization that this would be the first year since I was 2 that my mom and I wouldn’t be able to go to the ballet together. After a tearful phone call home, my mom and I came up with a plan. We were not going to let this tradition die.

This past weekend, it was finally time to put our plan into action. After some time zone calculations, we both set up our laptops and loaded a YouTube video of the Royal Dutch Ballet performing The Nutcracker. At 11pm my time, and 1pm for my mom, we both hit play and the first glorious notes of the overture flowed into my ears and signaled to me that it is officially Christmas time!

Throughout the show we chatted via iMessage and shared our thoughts and opinions on the dancing, costuming and set design. Despite some buffering issues due to my unreliable internet connection, we were able to watch the whole ballet together, even though we were thousand of miles and continents apart!

After the show ended, I laid in my bed with tears streaming down my face. I was indescribably grateful for modern technology, but even more than that, I was indescribably grateful for the relationship I have with my mom. It was magical to be able to keep our tradition alive despite not being able to be physically together.

As we all dive into the holiday season, I wish nothing but the best to you and your loved ones. I pray that this season brings you deep joy, peace, time with the people you love most and the opportunity to engage in your own traditions that make the holiday season so special!

Merry Christmas 🎄

Marie