Christmas Without Dad

Sitting by the undecorated Christmas tree, it was hard to imagine celebrating the season without her father. Just last year, she was out looking for just the right gift for her parents; this year, however, the Christmas spirit was not present in her life. Dad had died suddenly of multiple strokes and a massive heart attack leaving behind a stunned family with a broken-hearted wife. Dad was always the center of the Christmas celebrations in their lives with his love of the season with itslights and good cheer. No one seemed to want to celebrate this year.
A couple of years before, she had lost her grandmother and her father-in-law due to cancer and congestive heart failure. Granny had always had a major role in Christmas; her love of cooking came from her grandmother. During the school holidays, Granny always prepared luscious cakes, the perfect dumplings and dressing, as well as insights into life during the Great Depression. Laughter and the wonderful smells of Lemon Cheese cake, Lane cake, egg bread, cinnamon and nutmeg from cookies filled the kitchen for several days before Christmas Eve. As a child, she remembered waiting for her grandparents to arrive home from the store they owned on Christmas Eve for the family gathering for a simple supper and the opening of gifts. Aunts, uncles, and cousins helped fill Granny's house with joy and the spirit of giving that comes with Christmas. The excitement of Santa filled the air and the kids were all eager to get home after the gift opening so as not to miss Santa on his midnight journey. On the way home, she and her two brothers peered out of the car windows to see if Santa was on his way. Then, her grandfather died and Granny was alone; however, Granny was never really alone because her daughters and their families were constantly visiting, especially for Sunday dinners.
Her father-in-law was a retired soldier who had participated in the Korean and Vietnam Wars in the Army. The cancer that finally conquered his indomitable spirit was caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during the wars. He had met his wife in England when briefly stationed there. He was well respected in the community and was a great loss to both the family and the community. He died just before Christmas leaving an empty space for the holidays.
As a child, her dad had always made sure that the family always had a live Christmas tree; all the kids had gifts and filled stockings, and a good Christmas breakfast was had by all before leaving for grandmother's house. His parents had died when she was only one year old; she had been named after his mother and her great-grandmother. The smells of breakfast are clear in her memory - bacon frying, hoe cakes on the griddle, eggs fried along with hot coffee (for the adults) and orange juice and milk for the kids. The picture of her dad cooking on the old cast iron griddle lingers in her mind today.
Before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, dad kept them busy with various activities around the house. Potato candy, pulling taffy, popcorn strings for the tree, hiking in his sister's (her aunt's) woods looking for holly and mistletoe in the cold made each holiday special. Smoked turkey! Now that is a wonderful memory, she remembers the smoker going all night in the backyard while her dad smoked turkeys, hams, pork of various types for the holiday season. Bought smoked meats do not compare to the smells and tastes of her father's smoking. Christmas Eve, her dad always had the house filled with music and lights aglow in all the windows, the tree, and on the outside of the house. Warm or cold, the holiday was always made special with the loving care her dad put into the holiday. As she and her brothers grew older and married, her dad kept up the traditions with an expanded family as she and her brothers kept many of these same traditions in their homes. Her mom was always there for her dad, she supported his ever decision. Not that they did not disagree, sure they did but Christmas was always grand, even in the lean times, and filled with love.
Looking at the undecorated tree, she began to think about how her dad would feel if he saw an undecorated tree in the living room this near Christmas; to say nothing of a dusty house. Sipping her coffee, her mind turned to plans for the holiday. There was plenty to do including calling her mom for their daily chat and discussing what to make for the holiday meals. As she finished her coffee, the spirit of Christmas began to take hold of her spirits - chasing way the blues and gloom she had felt when she first sat down. Opening the computer, she began to put together a to-do list for the coming days. Finding the media player on the computer, she programed in Christmas songs on her hard drive; the music lifted her spirits and stirred up her creativity. A small smile began to appear as she contemplated the list she was composing. Picking up the phone, she began to dial her mom's number for suggestions and ideas for holiday treats. Yes, Christmas was going to be grand and filled with joy, just the way her dad would have wanted it.