I woke in a new place this Christmas morning. It has been a long time since I was away from home on Christmas morning.
The sound of running water caught my attention, why is there water running?
The fish tank
All was quiet and everyone was asleep
Until I pulled my computer out to right
Now there are footsteps and voices
And it brings a smile to my face
I am in my daughter’s new home and my husband and youngest are here.
Soon the other two will arrive
And we will have our Christmas morning
Slowly unwrapping each gift
As we have done every year
We are a one gift at a time kind of family
And my kids have started a duct tape war
Wrapping a gift with excessive amounts of duct tape
Excessive!
It can take an hour to open one gift
We declared a truce on the war this year
We don’t the luxury of all day to open gifts
Yet, we are fortunate we can be together
For several hours
In my daughter’s big house that she rents with a friend
My youngest child who usually sleeps until 10 or 11 is awake with me now
It is 8am and I have been awake for an hour
She is anxious for everyone to get here and wishing she was still asleep
I am enjoying her sitting with me as I write
I have been so busy the past 2 weeks
Making Christmas gifts
Working at the nursing home (s)
Growing our Focused Healthy Family business
Recording Podcasts
Baking and food prepping
“Place your bets” she says
As she calculates how much time it will take her brother to arrive
And for his fiancé to arrive
They are in two different places this morning
She went to her parents last night
He was at work
Somehow my grown kids have work schedules like their mom
Working weekends and in a world where holiday time off does not exist
Yet, all is good
We made it work
To be together
And tomorrow
Abby and I will head home
Together
To have time with extended family
The Menzo Gang
At my parents house
No longer on the lake, like years ago
When we gathered for a week
Room enough for all to stay together
Pitter-patter of little feet
Making movies and taking boat rides
We all miss the house on Lake Murray
Glad that my parents live closer to me now
And they are with us at 79 and 80 years
My mind wanders and then I bring it back
To now
Today
In this big wonderful house in Knightdale
Soon we will all be together
The Grothoff 6
Merry Christmas
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