Memories in the Making: The Tapestry of Holiday Traditions

Hi there, it’s Marietta.

As the twinkle lights go up and the holiday music starts playing (a little earlier each year, I swear!), I find myself thinking about the rhythms of the season, not just the carols, but the unique, personal traditions that make this time of year so special.

We all have them. Maybe it’s baking your great-grandmother’s cookie recipe, watching a specific movie on Christmas Eve, or driving around to see the best neighborhood light displays. These rituals are the heartbeat of the holidays, the glue that holds our memories together year after year.

For me, for a long, long time, my kickoff tradition was Black Friday. Not the online-click-from-your-couch kind (though I’ve grown to appreciate that, too!). I’m talking about the event. The setting of alarms for ungodly hours, the crisp, dark morning air, and the strategic planning with my friends Rose and Barb. We’d get to the store by 5 am for a 6 am opening, armed with coffee and a singular mission: to get that one must-have item. The adrenaline rush of the doors opening, the good-natured dash, the triumphant feeling of securing the prize, it was pure, silly fun. And the best part? The celebratory breakfast afterward, where we’d decompress, laugh, and marvel at our own madness.

I thought that tradition had evolved into online deals and avoiding crowds at all costs. I even joked that I should still call Rose and Barb at 4 am just to ask if they were awake, for old time’s sake.

But this year, my tradition was beautifully, wonderfully reborn.

I had the absolute pleasure of being invited by my 12-year-old granddaughter to join her on her Black Friday pilgrimage. The destination? The must-have jean store in the mall. The goal? The pair that would, in her words, “make me look so good.”

Let me tell you, the spirit was the same, but the details had changed. Instead of a dawn patrol, it was a mid-morning arrival. The strategic planning involved analyzing distressing levels and ankle cuts. The “dash” was replaced by patient waiting—for a fitting room, for her to model each option, and for what felt like a small eternity in the checkout line.

And you know what? It was perfect. Every minute of it.

I watched her face light up when she found the pair. I saw her confidence transform in the dressing room mirror. We were hunted down in the parking lot for our spot, and I just laughed, feeling a strange kinship with the eager driver waiting for us.

As we left the mall, bags in hand, I realized I didn’t know who was happier. Her, clutching the iconic shopping bag that held her social currency? Or me, clutching something far more precious: time.

Time with a girl who is on the cusp of not wanting to hang out so much with her Memere. Time that is fleeting and finite. We had this one—this year. And that was the real must-have item.

It reminded me that traditions aren’t about rigidly repeating the same actions. They’re about the feeling—the connection, the anticipation, the shared joy. They evolve as we do, weaving new people and new phases of life into their fabric.

This is what we build our lives around, isn’t it? These moments. These connections. And at Next-Nest, this understanding is at our core. We know a home is more than a transaction. It’s the backdrop for your traditions—the place where you’ll bake those cookies, watch those movies, and wrap those last-minute gifts. It’s where you’ll welcome family, including grandkids who might just invite you on an adventure.

Our flat-fee model is our way of honoring that. We believe in protecting your resources—your hard-earned money—so you can invest more of it into what truly builds your life: the experiences, the traditions, and the time with the people you love.

So, here’s to all your unique traditions, old and new. May they fill your season with joy.

And Rose and Barb? You might want to keep your phones charged next Black Friday. I’m feeling nostalgic. I just might decide to give you a call before the break of dawn and see if you’re ready to ride… even if it’s just to breakfast.

With warmth and wishes for a season filled with your favorite traditions,

Marietta 

Founder, Next-Nest Real Estate 

Helping You Build a Home, Not Just Buy a House