Well, I have to admit that this past Christmas season I was feeling less than cheerful. Instead of spreading the Christmas joy I was spreading "Bah Humbug!" Instead of "tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la" I actually left a message on a friends answering machine that went like this, "tis the season to be grumpy!"
Why was I feeling this way? Well for starters I guess the events of September 11th really had an impact. I knew how many others would not get a chance to celebrate Christmas and how many loved ones would still be here but would be unable to celebrate
because of the void of their loved one missing. How many children would never get to spend another Christmas with their mother or father and in some cases they lost both. How many wives would never be able to say "Merry Christmas Honey"How many husbands would not have to worry about being teased about their last minute shopping because their wives were gone. Thinking of these things really put a damper on my spirit. Locally, one woman comitted suicide right before the holidays because her husband had been killed in the World Trade Center. All of that was on my mind but I had other things also.
In November my maternal grandfather passed away from Cancer just as my mother had 17 years earlier. Then 5 days before Christmas my husband Jesse's Aunt Linda also passed away from Cancer. The hardest part of that was how close we all were to her. We were there with her when she passed away. No one wanted to leave. The only good thing it seemed about the season was that my parents were here. They had moved from PA to Seattle ,WA 6 years ago and we hadn't been able to celebrate the holiday's since then. Even that though had it's dark spot. Unfortuneately, my oldest brother and his wife who live in GA were supposed to come up also but couldn't make it.
Of course Christmas came anyway. We exchanged presents with my parents the Sunday before Chritmas as they had to leave Christmas Eve. My 6 year old daughter had gone out shopping with her grandparents to buy us our presents and was quite excited to have me open mine. When I did, I had to try very hard not to burst out laughing. I had told my parents I could use a new pair of slippers, ones that were nice and warm and soft &comfy. Emily got me slippers- hot pink fuzzy smiley face slippers! At first I thought "Oh, I'll never wear these" but then something happened, I started smiling! Just looking at these obnoxiously bright fuzzy slippers with their little smiley faces made me happy! When I tried them on they were also comfy! They made my feet do a little happy dance. So, my point is that my 6 year old daughter knew just what I needed most. It wasn't slippers, it was laughter and hope. She gave those to me again and now I know that if I'm having a bad day like today, all I need to do is put on my hot pink slippers and I'll feel a little better. Thanks you Emily for the best gift I could have possibly gotten this Christmas you always know how to make me smile.