Christmas 1984

 
It was a culture shock, at least to me
The civil war had been raging and had gotten out of hand
So we left
But when I celebrated my first Christmas in the U.S.
The silence of silent night took a whole new meaning

Though we spent the night talking, eating and listening to music
That old happy tunes felt more nostalgic than ever before
But it was the silence of the neighborhood that got me
No fireworks, no firecrackers, do we even know our neighbors?

The melting pot certainly had a different feel that first year
Why was Christmas Eve so quiet out in the streets
The celebration of Jesus that once felt like an all night party
Was now a more revered event of silence and peace

The new clothes and toys brought joy to that ten year old boy
But it was the start of new traditions in a new country
While my family celebrated and remembering the old times
Christmas 1984 was the beginning of nostalgia for me