After Christmas Blues

You know that kind of sad feeling you get after the last gift is opened and the last family meal has been eaten? Well, besides feeling incredibly over-stuffed? That’s how I felt this morning. I certainly did not want to get out of my nice, comfy bed to come to work after being off for five days. I did not want the holidays to end yet. We had to drive away and leave half of our family in South Carolina yesterday so we could come back home – in an over-packed car to a messy house. Tonight Logan has a basketball game at 6:00, which means I’ll rush out of here as soon as I can and drive like a maniac all the way home to do a quick-change and head right back out again. Hopefully I’ll be able to accomplish some unpacking tonight and putting away cool new gifts – like jewelry and perfume and books and clothes and new Jim Shore pieces!!

This is a picture of me and two of my five nieces, Daniela (L) and Deann (Middle). Deann is like a daughter to me and Artie! We love our nieces!!

I kind of wonder if this was Dad’s last Christmas. I am not like Mom, I don’t always say “He’s in the end stages…” or “… he probably won’t be here much longer…” . I’ve been an optimist so far – at least as much as I can be. Therapy helps, and it somehow helps that we’ve been through this before, with Mamaw. It is so hard to see him this way, and I know there will be a relief in knowing that he doesn’t suffer anymore and he’s gone on to heaven with his parents and brother. But I still don’t want to imagine a world without my Dad in it, you know? He still looks at me in answer when I say “Dad,” and he still laughs when I do something silly for him. Part of me will go when he goes…

On a happier note, we had a blast in South Carolina. The kids always play until there are more dirty streaks than clean, until they collapse into exhausted sleep at night, sometimes all in a pile together. We had a great bonfire Saturday night and great snacks, fireworks, and karaoke!! Leave it to Cheryl Arthur … Mumma & Papoo’s neighbor. LOL. That is one hilarious lady! We did make it home yesterday in time to watch a movie and fall asleep on the couch.

All in all this was a really good Christmas. I have seen more of my extended family in the last few weeks than I usually do in years, I’ve had a lot of great food, big laughs, and great gifts. And I’ve almost made it through the first day back at work, so … it could be a lot worse.