[StBernard] Holidays always on Bayou for Manzella

[Westley Annis]

Holidays always on Bayou for Manzella
Youngster spending time with family, following traditions
By Brian McTaggart / MLB.com

HOUSTON -- Tommy Manzella longs for the days he can go with his family down
to Aunt Sylvia's home on the Bayou in St. Bernard Parish for an
unforgettable Christmas Eve dinner before heading to midnight mass. For his
money, there's nothing like Christmas in New Orleans. 
This time of year, the cathedral churches that dot the city are decorated
with poinsettias and nativity scenes. The narrow streets and magnolia trees
are lined with flickering lights. And there's a feeling in the air unlike
anywhere else. 

"It's a warm feeling around Christmas," Manzella said. "It makes it that
much more special being around family." 

Manzella, who was born and raised in the New Orleans suburb of Chalmette,
La., cherishes spending the holidays in the Crescent City, even though
things have changed in the past few years. 

Hurricane Katrina altered the look of the city and flooded Manzella's
boyhood home with 14 feet of water in 2005. Manzella's mother, Carol, passed
away on June 9, 2008 after a six-year battle with ovarian cancer, leaving a
void that becomes larger this time of year. 

This Christmas figures to be even more meaningful for Manzella, who could be
the starting shortstop for the Astros on Opening Day. 

"Christmas is a big holiday for us," said Manzella, who attended Tulane
University in New Orleans. "You don't talk to anybody who doesn't go to
midnight mass. I don't know how it is in other cities, but it seems pretty
special. Everyone you know is going to mass somewhere around the city." 

Manzella takes his father, Tommy Sr., out to each lunch each Dec. 24 for his
birthday. The tradition for years in the Manzella household was to visit his
aunt, Sylvia Guillot, on Christmas Eve. Her house was damaged by Katrina and
is still being remodeled, which has forced the family to the home of
Manzella's older sister, Monica, for the holiday. 

"Some friends and a lot of family will drop by for dinner at her house and
then have dessert," Manzella said. "It's a time for a close family to be
together. Then we almost all go to midnight mass in New Orleans." 

Prior to Katrina, the Manzellas went to midnight mass at Our Lady of Prompt
Succor, which is where Manzella and sisters Monica and Mindy attended
elementary school. Now the family congregates wherever it can. 

"There's a bunch of churches around uptown New Orleans where I live, and
we'll pick somewhere around here and then right after, we'll drive back to
Hammond, which is about 45 minutes away, to go to my dad's house," Manzella
said. "My mom and dad like for us all to stay up and open presents there,
all under the same roof. 

"Usually when we were younger, we were up really early. My sisters started
getting excited about it and jumping to get me up at 9 a.m. to open
presents. That's what we usually do, and then we're with our whole family
for Christmas and we'll spend the day together." 

Last year was the first Christmas that Manzella spent without his mother,
and he admitted it was difficult. His friends and family will gather again
this year and undoubtedly remember the past while hoping for better times
ahead. 

"With our family, Christmas is special because we're a really close family
and we're always together," he said. "My parents raised me and my sisters
Catholic and we're very devout Catholics. We went to church every Sunday
when I was a kid and sat in the front row to make sure we were paying
attention. 

"Christmas is absolutely about celebrating the birth of Jesus and is the
most important holiday. When you think about all that, it's tough when
you're celebrating without a parent. It has a different feeling, an empty
feeling. But at the same time you know you have a big family. You have
people that care about you, and that's what Christmas is all about." 

And don't worry. Manzella plans to visit Aunt Sylvia's once or twice before
he leaves for Spring Training. 

"We don't really need much of a reason to be together at my aunt's house,"
he said. 

Brian McTaggart is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.