My Christmas Holidays Over the Years

Reflecting on the Changes Through My Life

It will depend on your age now what you think is the “right way” or “best way” to celebrate the holidays. Please feel free to share some you own celebrations as you enjoy whatever ways you celebrate and whatever it is that is important to your own cultures and families. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Uncle Robin, who worked for the Eastman Kodak Company, first as a chemist and then in a less enjoyable, for him, administrative role over time, always gave me a Kodak camera for important times in my life. I was five or six when I got my first Brownie camera. Up through the mid-1980s, most photos I have come from those cameras.

My mother tried very hard to be a good wife and mother. For those of you old enough to remember, that was from the TV show “Father Knows Best” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Knows_Best). Half the time she pulled it off well! She went “all out” decorating and getting us all presents each year. My father only let her spend money on us kids for back-to-school supplies and clothes, our birthdays, and Christmas. These were memorable and special occasions. Here she is unpacking the tree ornaments in 1960. Mentor, OH

Here’s a Christmas morning photo of my brothers and me that same year:

My first child takes his first steps the Christmas of 1977, at my parent’s house in Mentor, OH, with my brother and his wife.

1986 Princess Island Resort in San Diego

1987 at Disney World

A year of several families sharing together, 1991, Minneapolis, MN

A family event in Almelund, MN, 2004, with a Danish relative’s family

And that Danish-Swedish cake they make:

Golden Valley, MN, dessert for more relatives! 2004

Visiting Dad in South Florida, a restaurant Christmas dinner 2005

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Part of the club entryway in South Florida

Family enjoys Botanical Garden display in Cleveland Hts., OH, 2013

2014, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas at the Children’s Theater, Minneapolis.

My indoor and outdoor Christmas trees.

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My current published books about the gifted:

The Five Levels of Gifted Children Grown Up: What They Tell Us (2023). https://www.amazon.com/Levels-Gifted-Children-Grown-Up/dp/B0C9SHFRLH or https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-5-levels-of-gifted-children-grown-up-phd-deborah-l-ruf/1143719859?ean=9798988323709. This is an 18-year longitudinal study follow-up about the original gifted child subjects in 5 Levels of Gifted: School Issues and Educational Options (2005, 2009).

Keys to Successfully Parenting the Gifted Child (2023). On Amazon, Keys to Successfully Parenting Gifted Children (2022, 2023) Print and ebook.

Losing Our Minds: Too Many Gifted Children Left Behind (Oct. 2024). Available now on both Amazon and B&N. It is not the old purple book from 2005. Also, the Kindle and Nook versions are formatted so readers can click back and forth easily and find their place again. Follow this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL3BSC9X or this link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/losing-our-minds-deborah-ruf/1146410968?ean=2940185888872

5 Levels of Gifted: School Issues and Educational Options in 2009. Here are links to the 5 Levels of Gifted book on Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/5-levels-of-gifted-deborah-ruf/1126358834 and Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Levels-Gifted-School-Educational-Options/dp/0910707987 or directly from the publisher: https://www.giftedunlimitedllc.com/store/p12/5_Levels_of_Gifted.html

Environmental, Familial, and Personal Factors That Affect the Self-Actualization of Highly Gifted Adults: Case Studies (D. Ruf, 1998) doctoral dissertation. Free PDF https://dabrowskicenter.org/ruf

Dr. Ruf is available for the following services.

Click for details and to schedule:
One-Hour Test Interpretation
Gifted Child Test Interpretation & Guidance
20-Minute Consultation
45-Minute Consultation
One-Hour Consultation
Podcast Interview