Book of Past Challenges

Merry Christmas to All

Haven't we been down
this road before?
Of my 76 Christmases
what's my most memorable?
I honestly don't know. They blur
together until a comment
a photo, a song or a person,
something draws me back.

So I'll simply
share my 77th with you,
which hasn't yet happened,
but only one week away
so things are fresh
in my memory. Favorite,
probably not,
but who knows, I'm alive,
my family is well
and I'm truly
grateful for each day
and Christmas
just takes it up a notch.

Since my son married
and made his home
500 miles away
I've gone south
to watch my grandkids
experience the wonder
that is Christmas each year.
It's easier and cheaper
for two people to travel
than a family of six.
A few years ago
they planned
a trip north
to spend the holiday here
and my son ended up
in the hospital,
again I went south
and obviously
their trip was cancelled.

He was a motor cop
at the time
and he was hit by a car
merging into his lane
where he was pursuing
a speeder at 75 miles
an hour with full lights
and sirens but she
didn't see him.
They had to pry
the bill of his helmet
from the asphalt.
That was a scary one,
but he survived,
he's just fine, still a cop
but plain clothes now
an expert in vehicle theft,
chop shops, undercover ops
and surveillance.
I told him he lives
a real live TV show.

This year I'm staying home
and so are my son and grandkids.
I'm hosting a Christmas brunch
for my brother and another couple.
I'm still planning the menu
and additional decorations,
its kind of fun to change it up.
I'll go to Midnight Mass
in my own parish,
which I haven't done
for a long time,
husband won't make it that late.
We'll facetime the kids
on Christmas morning
and enjoy a low key celebration.

Then a few quiet days
before we'll be invaded
by our grandchildren
and their parents
for a full week.
A promise of chaos, noise,
adventure and lots of love.
On second thought, this just may
end up being my favorite.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Notes ▼

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"day 24 "