The Perfect Christmas

The Perfect Christmas

I had about as “perfect” a Christmas as you could have this year. Somehow I managed to take care of my familial obligations and enjoy myself at the same time. The week of Christmas included watching nephew Derek in his school Christmas pageant, seeing nephew Max score about a dozen points in a big jayvee basketball win, time watching a funny movie at my brother John’s house while munching on venison sausage, and the day after Christmas seeing a big Packer’s win over the Giants.

I even managed to help my Mom make some of her final Christmas cookies of the season and attend Christmas Eve mass with her. That night we had a small gathering of family during which we watched Christmas movies and ate pork pie and sipped egg nog. Christmas Day itself was nice and I can’t remember when family stayed as long or seemed as continent.

I think the events leading up to Christmas helped to underscore the holiday. My cousin Doug died of cancer this fall and the same day he passed away my Mom underwent what was supposed to be routine surgery. She nearly died after she was overmedicated. My brothers and sisters got her back to the hospital in time where they found out she was barely getting enough oxygen. Take my word for it without getting into all the details, we were lucky to have her around for this Christmas.

She commented Christmas Day she thought it was one of the best she can remember having. I mentioned that to my sister Diana the day after and she said “it wasn’t that perfect.” I guess I’ll have to inquire if the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future are available after the holidays.

I really have a difficult time taking down Christmas ornaments after the holidays. They are usually up through New Year’s and then they come down. I waited a little longer this year figuring I’d take them down during the Packers playoff game with the Eagles this past weekend so I wouldn’t be fretting too much over what was taking place on the field. I decided to leave an ornament in my front window, a bronze star that my sister Kathy slipped into my Christmas stocking. It will stay up through the year. Christmas is about giving and I want a symbol of that to occasionally remind me.