The Christmas season wrapped up at midnight, December 25, and I must say, it was the fastest season on record. Thanksgiving was a bit later this year, but Christmas itself seemed to zoom by.
This Christmas was the first Christmas without my mother. My husband's beloved uncle in New Jersey also passed away just a few weeks ago. All of us were sort of dreading this holiday - we weren't sure what to expect. My son put it very well today - Christmas came and went before we even noticed it. Macy's kept me so busy that I didn't have time to do much decorating. There's a wreath on the door and that's about it. I sent out Christmas cards - but the list was very short. I, somehow, managed to bake cookies for people at work My daughter was busy working at the movie theater or out with her friends. My husband had a host of health issues that demanded much of our attention. Even Christmas dinner wasn't a big deal - pork roast and vegetables in cheese sauce. Cherry pie for dessert.
I'm not sure if we are out of the woods just yet. On Christmas Eve morning, I received a call from a member of my uncle's family - my only living aunt (Mom's older sister) was in the hospital. Dehydration and bad nutrition led to her being rushed to the emergency room. All I could think of was, "Here we go again."
Maybe the lesson here is that life goes on in spite of ourselves. I feel like my mom nudged me a bit on Thanksgiving Day and gave me permission to enjoy the holiday. While I was so busy my head was spinning, I didn't feel depressed. My daughter, however, told me she missed her grandma and was sad. I guess it was a good thing she was busy with work.
