Every year, my brother and I get together to watch the Masters. Although neither of us has ever visited the hallowed grounds in Augusta, we’re resigned to watch the tournament on TV and listen to the roars of the crowd as Jim Nantz masterfully guides us through the course. It was Jim Nantz who coined the phrase, “a tradition unlike any other,” one that’s become synonymous with the tournament.
It’s a phrase that applies to the Masters for sure, but it also applies to many other traditions in my life. Most of which have nothing to do with money but everything to do with the people I love and care most about.
Memorial Day is usually reserved for a weekend at a lake house owned by friends I’ve known for over 30 years. I say usually because, due to scheduling conflicts, we’ve had to move the weekend to the 4th of July the past couple of years. I assume canceling was an option but I don’t think it was ever seriously considered. Regardless of the exact date on the calendar, the weekend has become a tradition for my family and those of my friends, who I consider extended family.
Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. The food, music and general joy brought on by the season brings back happy memories from my childhood. One of those memories was visiting my parents’ friend’s house for Christmas Eve. Funny enough, I don’t remember a vast array of food, gifts or otherwise. I do remember feeling safe and content. It was an experience equivalent to having a fuzzy blanket wrapped around me, providing warmth and comfort in a childhood that didn’t always deliver on those promises.
Traditions are normally associated with something positive but that’s not always the case. It could be a family tradition to lay hands on your spouse, drink in excess or overspend to the point of indebtedness. It’s an unfortunate reality, but these traditions are often passed down from generation to generation. It goes without saying, the world would be a better place if this were not the case.
One of the best parts of having kids is to pass on positive experiences from your childhood. If they’re few and far between, you have the ability to re-create what you wish your life had been like when you were growing up. It’s an incredible opportunity but it’s not without challenges. As parents, it’s often difficult to stay in our lane. Our kids may look like mini versions of ourselves, but they’re altogether different human beings, our similarities not withstanding.
This becomes difficult when considering traditions we’re either continuing, re-creating or creating from scratch. The lake, beach or mountains may be our happy place, but the same may not be true for our kids. The memories being created may very well be happy ones. It’s also possible your kids are formulating plans to never follow the same traditions you hold so dear when they have kids of their own.
Personally, I’d like to get to the Masters one day. To see it in person would be a dream come true.
To see it with my brother would be a tradition fulfilled unlike any other.
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