Through the holidays I have had the opportunity to reflect
on the many blessings of my life and extended family. Thirty plus people ranging from 96 years old
to 4 months old share holiday celebrations in one form or another. One stroke survivor who, at this point in her
recovery, you would never know had ever had a stroke. Ditto one cancer survivor who had a double
mastectomy, chemo and radiation. A
beautiful bald new mom who miraculously has no indicators of the metastatic
breast cancer that challenged the final weeks of her pregnancy. Her healthy chubby-cheeked son and his 4 year
old and 2 year old cousins were the delight of this holiday. A mom, her mobility increasingly limited by
MS, allowed her teenage son to carry her in piggy-back style. The matriarch, my momma, is profoundly hearing
impaired but happily gave directions from her “throne” – everything from “the
doughnuts must be cut in half” to “put the ham buns on the Santa platter, NOT
the elf platter”. Lots of talking and
laughing and noisy toys. Too much food.
I am also deeply aware that these people and traditions I
treasure are ever-changing and only here for a brief moment of eternity. I remember my nieces, nephew
and great-nephews when they were born -- and those "children" are adults or near adults.
I miss the patriarch, my daddy, who died 4 years ago. I miss the younger woman my mother once was who decorated
her home and cooked from Thanksgiving to CHRISTmas for her neighbors and
family. I miss my healthy husband who
would play with the toddlers and participate in the after-gifts basketball
games.
