Christmas thoughts

Reflecting a little on my own Christmas from the past I can tell you the only sure thing in this life is change.

I grew up spending time between 2 large families. The wealthy one that had humble beginnings in the past, and the one with restricted budget that had been wealthy for generations.

One was flashy, the other one was generous. But more than anything, I remember the tumultuous gatherings, Each of my parents had 7 and 9 siblings.

I remember the joy of being together, celebrating, eating, enjoying all those home made meals and tons of cookies! Talking, laughing and more than anything, the feeling that life was always going to be like that.

As we all grew and moved to different places, different countries, bunch of letters kept us in contact, later on it was emails, then just the occasional good wishes for birthdays and Christmas.

Each aunt, uncle and cousins made their own families and as it goes, things get complicated with additional number of extended relatives, spouses etc...

The distance didn't help much.

For me it was easier to spend holidays with my husband's family, because of weather, small children and the fact that I had for many years horrible back pain that for years made it impossible for me to even walk, so we did the less-stressing thing.

Those Christmas were happy but different. Much less people, less chattering, more movies playing to keep the kids entertained, shorter visits and then the driving back home.

Later on after my in laws passed away, we stopped getting together, the kids and cousins grew, all of them are adults; fast forward to when the pandemic happened and seems like these past years it's a different movie altogether.

I supposed that's life. It keeps changing on us all the time. My dad passed away in 2021. My mom went to heaven 8 months ago.

Each year even at an age when you think you've seen it all... you haven't.

There are things that only when it happens to you, you know that you were not aware of it, whatever "it" might be. I guess there's a beauty on that as well.

Going back to the start, this Christmas has different in unexpected ways. Bunch of unexpected complications. Even the weather was weird but being it kind of warm, I will not complain about that!

I didn't even cook. My husband and daughter prepared all. No decorations outside, but we have the Christmas tree and colorful presents under it.

I am content in a very different way, just a bit melancholy still hearing the laughter of those Christmases of the past.

I imagine we all do. .....When is Spring starting? 😅

Enjoy this image by the artist Adkison, its always fun to see it, and I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas and holidays season 💓