News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Naomi Schleben browses the Christmas decoration at Meijer on Thursday. She said she comes from a large family that has chaotic and fun holiday celebrations.

ALPENA — Christmas time for Naomi Schleben and her family was more than about giving presents.

She is 23 years old, engaged to be married, and has no children.

Although she doesn’t have her own family, yet, she said the holidays are a time to come together with the ones you love, to laugh, joke, and celebrate the holiday season. She took time Thursday to answer five questions for The News.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY’S CHRISTMAS?

Chaotic, most of the time. We would have Grandma out, with all of the aunts and uncles. We always ate, played cards, and had a lot of laughs.

WHAT WAS THE FAVORITE CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED?

It would be the blankets and scarves my grandma used to make me. She loves to knit and made them for us for winter.

DO YOU THINK CHRISTMAS HAS BECOME TOO COMMERCIALIZED?

It has become commercialized and there is too much focus on presents. The way we do Christmas is more about being with family and really don’t care about gifts all that much.

WHAT WOULD CHRISTMAS BE LIKE WITHOUT FAMILY?

It would be hard. I come from a big family who always does everything together. So not being with them would be hard.

WHAT DO YOU THINK CHRISTMAS WILL BE LIKE FOR YOU THIS YEAR WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

I’m sure we’ll try to do something, but with how Thanksgiving was, with my grandma not leaving the house at all, she might not do anything for Christmas, sadly. I want to do stuff with the family. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. I understand with the pandemic it might not be possible.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.