The last loved one left about 45 min ago. Dar and I shared a final Christmas hug, then she went to bed. The silence is deafening. Buster and I step out in the back yard. We both need to piss but I also want to gaze at and reflect on the majesty of the starry heavens. Standing out there under the trees and in the cold night air, I allow my mind to drift back , to a similar night, over 2000 years ago. His majesty, the infant king came to earth and the world would never be the same We stand out there for several more minutes and Buster lets me know he's getting cold and time to go back in.
We walk back in and I make another walk thru the house making sure all the candles are out and the lights are turned off. We come back to the fireplace, which is still on, and sit down in front of it. The room is lit only by the flickering flame and the glow from the many multi colored lights, on my much loved Christmas tree. It has been with us many years and has watched my grandchildren grow up. The amazing memories are almost overwhelming.
This year, like every year, after the house empties, and Dar goes to bed, I sit and replay all of the events of the last two evenings. I don't want to forget any detail. I will deliberately enter every joyous tidbit into my memory banks. These precious memories are worth more than gold and I will enjoy them for the rest of my life.
Today's celebration and festivities started around 4pm. No set schedule, and that's by design. My gang starts showing up by ones and twos. I get hugs from them all and remind them of how important they are to me. I mess with my grand kids and get them all stirred up. They're not babies anymore. Their ages range from 12 to 24, but they'll always be kids to me. About this time Dar announces, "time to eat" and we all gather around the food. We discovered a long time ago that a buffet style format worked best.
Spread out before us was a kings feast. A veritable vision for eyes and palette. Before us was baked ham, prime rib, mashed potatoes and noodles, corn, shrimp cocktail, fruit platter, several salads, and other tasty items.. It was magnificent. We lingered over dinner, enjoying conversation and just not being in a hurry. After a while , we were all stuffed and the kids were getting restless. The little turds were eager to retire to the living room and get after the gift opening.
Years ago it was our tradition that I hand out the gifts, but a few years ago, it occurred to me that I was missing something that would prove to be invaluable to me. I wanted to look into their sweet faces as they opened the gifts that were given in love. So I delegated to the other adults and asked them to decide who would have the honor.
So at this point I try to become invisible. I pick an out of the way seat and simple just watch. Trying to miss none of the nuances. I don't want to miss any of the smiles, the glee, hand clapping, hugs of thanks, and all the impulses of happiness.
So I'm sitting silently , allowing my eyes to roam the room and focusing on individual loved ones. As always, I seek out Dar. Beautiful Dar, my wife of 53 years, who is still a georgeous
woman. She can hardly contain her excitement. She's not interested in personal gifts, but so very eager that her family is happy and pleased with their gifts. She doesn't know that I'm looking at her. So special. What would I do without her?
My eyes drift around the room and settle on my youngest. My son Matt. It's hard for me to grasp that he is now 46. Impossible, why it was only yesterday that I was teaching him how to throw a curve, then only a short time later, watching him play HS basketball , then after an eye blink, he's receiving his college diploma. What is going on? What has happened? He's approaching middle age and I can't stop this out of control speed thru life. Alright wuf , calm the hell down. It is what it is. I gaze at his precious face and my love over flows for him. He's special.
I study each of the faces. Each one so different, so unique, so capable, and I cherish them all. Well I notice that the final gifts are being handed out and the happiness and excitement is still running at a feverish pitch.
The final gift is opened and the gratefulness and thankfulness is being expressed to each other thru words and embraces. I come out of my private place and rejoin this rowdy mob as we continue to celebrate. We go on for several more hours as none of us want it to end. But soon , yawns are showing up, and the happy fatigue of a busy Christmas season is finally catching up with each of us.
So everyone finds their coats, gathers up thir gifts, embraces Dar and I and reluctantly heads for home. So this is where I started my story. I receive Dar's hug and she goes to bed.
So here i am , sitting on the sofa, in front of the fire, and my good friend Buster, laying beside me. Christmas 2017 has been amazing in so many ways. I've lived thru 75 Christmas' and have cherished them all but I think 2017 is up there.
Well, I've shut down the fire and making my way to the bedroom and the comfort of my ol fart sack.
Hmmmm, , I think 2018 is going to be a fantastic year. Business should prosper and new adventures are lurking out there just waiting to be discovered. God willing, on Dec 26, 2018, I'll be writing to you once again. Take care, my friends.
We walk back in and I make another walk thru the house making sure all the candles are out and the lights are turned off. We come back to the fireplace, which is still on, and sit down in front of it. The room is lit only by the flickering flame and the glow from the many multi colored lights, on my much loved Christmas tree. It has been with us many years and has watched my grandchildren grow up. The amazing memories are almost overwhelming.
This year, like every year, after the house empties, and Dar goes to bed, I sit and replay all of the events of the last two evenings. I don't want to forget any detail. I will deliberately enter every joyous tidbit into my memory banks. These precious memories are worth more than gold and I will enjoy them for the rest of my life.
Today's celebration and festivities started around 4pm. No set schedule, and that's by design. My gang starts showing up by ones and twos. I get hugs from them all and remind them of how important they are to me. I mess with my grand kids and get them all stirred up. They're not babies anymore. Their ages range from 12 to 24, but they'll always be kids to me. About this time Dar announces, "time to eat" and we all gather around the food. We discovered a long time ago that a buffet style format worked best.
Spread out before us was a kings feast. A veritable vision for eyes and palette. Before us was baked ham, prime rib, mashed potatoes and noodles, corn, shrimp cocktail, fruit platter, several salads, and other tasty items.. It was magnificent. We lingered over dinner, enjoying conversation and just not being in a hurry. After a while , we were all stuffed and the kids were getting restless. The little turds were eager to retire to the living room and get after the gift opening.
Years ago it was our tradition that I hand out the gifts, but a few years ago, it occurred to me that I was missing something that would prove to be invaluable to me. I wanted to look into their sweet faces as they opened the gifts that were given in love. So I delegated to the other adults and asked them to decide who would have the honor.
So at this point I try to become invisible. I pick an out of the way seat and simple just watch. Trying to miss none of the nuances. I don't want to miss any of the smiles, the glee, hand clapping, hugs of thanks, and all the impulses of happiness.
So I'm sitting silently , allowing my eyes to roam the room and focusing on individual loved ones. As always, I seek out Dar. Beautiful Dar, my wife of 53 years, who is still a georgeous
woman. She can hardly contain her excitement. She's not interested in personal gifts, but so very eager that her family is happy and pleased with their gifts. She doesn't know that I'm looking at her. So special. What would I do without her?
My eyes drift around the room and settle on my youngest. My son Matt. It's hard for me to grasp that he is now 46. Impossible, why it was only yesterday that I was teaching him how to throw a curve, then only a short time later, watching him play HS basketball , then after an eye blink, he's receiving his college diploma. What is going on? What has happened? He's approaching middle age and I can't stop this out of control speed thru life. Alright wuf , calm the hell down. It is what it is. I gaze at his precious face and my love over flows for him. He's special.
I study each of the faces. Each one so different, so unique, so capable, and I cherish them all. Well I notice that the final gifts are being handed out and the happiness and excitement is still running at a feverish pitch.
The final gift is opened and the gratefulness and thankfulness is being expressed to each other thru words and embraces. I come out of my private place and rejoin this rowdy mob as we continue to celebrate. We go on for several more hours as none of us want it to end. But soon , yawns are showing up, and the happy fatigue of a busy Christmas season is finally catching up with each of us.
So everyone finds their coats, gathers up thir gifts, embraces Dar and I and reluctantly heads for home. So this is where I started my story. I receive Dar's hug and she goes to bed.
So here i am , sitting on the sofa, in front of the fire, and my good friend Buster, laying beside me. Christmas 2017 has been amazing in so many ways. I've lived thru 75 Christmas' and have cherished them all but I think 2017 is up there.
Well, I've shut down the fire and making my way to the bedroom and the comfort of my ol fart sack.
Hmmmm, , I think 2018 is going to be a fantastic year. Business should prosper and new adventures are lurking out there just waiting to be discovered. God willing, on Dec 26, 2018, I'll be writing to you once again. Take care, my friends.
