Once a Year

Technically every moment in your life is once in a lifetime, but certain moments and certain days have extra significance. Christmas Day happens to be one of this. Like the song says it comes just once a year. It is a special day. A day that transcends time and place.

The spirit of giving dwells in each of us and this is our chance to let it out. To give gifts to those we love and watch their reactions. This is by far the biggest Christmas our kids have had. It is also my first Christmas without my father.

My father was the driver of any family celebration. In recent years I would call him as the holiday was approaching and made would order and pick-up the food. This year I did all that. I got the food and was ready to go to my mom’s house. Then my mom went into the hospital and on our way to church I forgot the mac for the mac and cheese. That broke something in me. I just didn’t want to do it.

We were going to be tight on time having to run back home for noodles. We could have invited my sister over and I thought about that, but we have a six lbs ham and not that many people. I figured we wait. Wait until New Years Eve and maybe more people will be able to be there.

A death in the family does reveal a lot of the family dynamics and I am disappointed that many in the family let old grudges keep them from reaching out. It isn’t worth thinking about that now though. This day comes once a year and the front room is full of presents. My kids are about to have a great holiday and I am about to learn the meaning of some assembly required.

I don’t know if Mario Cart can cure all ills, but I am looking forward to playing it with my kids. I am also surprised that none of them are awake yet. We do have to wait for mommy to get home from working before we can open any gifts, but the big man has come, and cheer is ready to be spread. It is only waiting on the participants to enter the room.