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Christmas
has always been a time to celebrate what it means to be a family. What
are the traditions that the Bissett family holds dear? |
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"There are many, but the
main thing we try to do is to spend as much
time together as we can enjoying the special spirit of this time of
year.
"December is like one big open house around here. People are always
dropping in to say hello, both friends and extended family.
"Of course, a lot of cooking and baking goes on for us at this time of
year. [Phil's oldest son Cameron made coconut cream pies for
Thanksgiving and will be pressed into service for Christmas baking.]
"We wrap presents together in shifts, sometimes it's Robin and the boys,
then it's my turn with them. Everyone can always tell which gifts I've
wrapped. They're the ones with the newspaper comic strips. I just can't
see wasting all that wrapping paper!"
"And there's always a lot of closet cleaning at this time of year so
that we can contribute toys and clothes to local charity drives." |
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What's the
Bissett Christmas tree look like? |
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"It's always a
real tree, never an artificial one. We generally go out as a
family with an axe and the dog and cut a live one. Some years
it's a fir; sometimes it's a long-needle white pine. Always we
have to reach a consensus with the five of us - and it starts
out with five different opinions. It can take all night!
"The decorating process generally starts as soon as we get it
home. We'll spin it around a dozen times to get it in the right
spot. Sometimes it's in front of the picture window in the
family room; sometimes we put it in another room in the house.
"Our tree changes year to year. Sometimes we'll put on the old
ornaments from Robin's grandparents or that have been passed
down on
my side. Sometimes we'll use the keepsake ornaments Robin and I
have
collected since our marriage in 1987. Sometimes we'll use a
theme, like the outdoors, and hang ornaments that look like
fishing lures. Other years, we'll do the traditional red and
gold.
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of course we've got a bunch of ornaments that the kids have made
over the years that are always favorites.
"Once we get the ornaments on, we've all got to be constantly
vigilant to keep the cats from knocking them off the tree!
"But the star - that doesn't go on top until Christmas Eve. We
rotate among the boys who gets to put the star on each year.
We're very good
record keepers on whose turn it is! [Cameron's this year.]
"On Christmas Eve, everybody gets to open one gift of their
choosing.
It's a tradition that's been passed down in my family. My
brother Tommy and I used to do it. I think it helps build the
excitement for what's coming the next morning. Of course, it
also makes it even harder to get kids to go to sleep!"
(back
to top) |
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If you could
relive one particular Christmas morning, which one would it be? |
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"Probably the
last one - when my father was alive. [Phil's father,
Tom, passed away in June this year.]
"Apart from that, it would be hard to choose one particular
Christmas, because to me every Christmas Day is special. Just
the fact of waking up and being able to enjoy Christmas morning
is a gift in itself.
"I remember the excitement as a boy - and dad recording
everything with that old movie camera with the four bright
spotlights on top. You couldn't see anything at all when those
lights hit you!
"When you have children yourself, all that excitement comes back
to you again."
(back to top) |
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So what's it
like on Christmas morning for you and Robin and the boys? |
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"We try to be as organized as possible. Then two minutes into
the process, that plan's gone and it becomes a free-for-all.
Robin and I
just go around with a trash bag and try to get as much debris as
we
can while trying to get it all on videotape.
"Everybody's got their own personalized Christmas stocking -
kids,
dogs, cats. Nobody's left out.
"Sometime during the morning, the grandparents drop by. Robin's
father, Tony, will make breakfast -- eggs, chipped beef. Once
the kids finish destroying this house, we go to my brother's or
to the grandparents' and start all over again!"
(back to top) |
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What's on the
Bissett table for Christmas dinner? |
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 "We
host Thanksgiving at our house. Christmas dinner has
traditionally been at my parents'. So we'll be revisiting that
tradition this year. My oldest nephew, Jason, wants us to come
to his house. It will give me a chance to spend time with my
great-nieces. So it looks like the next generation
is ready to take on these family traditions, which is nice to
see."Generally,
in our family, the host cooks
the turkey and the standard
side dishes. Everybody else contributes a dish. We'll be
bringing Robin's mother's recipe for broccoli cheese casserole.
I could make a meal off of that alone! Sometimes the hunters of
the family contribute game to the meal as well. But the one rule
we all know is this: You have to stuff yourself to the point of
passing out, or
my mother's not happy."
back to top) |
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What's on your
Christmas wish list this year? |
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"Having a family
that's healthy and happy is always at the top of my list."
(back to top) |
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More Talking with Phil |
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Talking with
Phil: Who is Phil Bissett |
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Talking with
Phil: Phil on Education |
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Check back in
the future for Phil's comments on the issues facing our county
and his goals as county executive. |
More Talking with Phil:
