Cleveland Comhrá: Merry Christmas

My mother’s siblings would start to arrive around noon, some with families of their own already, but all looking to my mother as the big sister she was and still is to all of them. My mother says she’s had a child on her hip since she was six. I guess that’s why our house was always the focal point of family.

I remember on even the coldest days, there would be so many people in the house that doors and windows would be opened. How so many fit in that tiny house is still a mystery to me. It wasn’t  just the holidays, there were always family there, but on Christmas, everyone was there at the same time.

My mother’s youngest sister is only three years older than I am, and my uncle Wayne and I have had a relationship closer to a younger and older brother than an uncle and nephew, that continues to this day.

Family is scattered now all across the states and getting together happens very rarely. All have families of their own and their own traditions and memories are being discovered.

When my brother and I talk on the phone, I remember the little details I shared with him when our own grandchildren were little, as he is now the proud “papa” of two little girls. My sister too is out of state; she and her husband try to connect with their own busy children at Christmas.

We’ll still have a nice Christmas with my parents and our oldest son and his daughter and our younger son and his wife and two kids. Mary will still buy too much, clean too much and cook too much. But after all this time I know she’s not going to change. Sometimes I’m just a little bit jealous that she looks forward to Christmas as I used to.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m not a grinch, I just look forward to it differently.

I look forward to a brisk walk with the dogs early in the morning. The looks on our grandchildren’s faces when they open the gifts Mary has found for them. Even the look on Mary’s face when she finally sits back and watches. I look at my mom and dad and see how proud they are of this family and I take joy in that.

Once everyone is gone, and we have cleaned up the dishes and the dogs have been out for the last time, I’ll pour a glass and watch my beautiful wife dose off on the couch and realize once more I have been given the greatest gift of all.

Merry Christmas!