Christmas 2017 in Day by Day

It was good. Emotional, but that’s the way it is these days. The kids liked their gifts and wowed us with theirs: they booked the tickets for our trip to New England next fall using our voucher from the last trip and making up the difference from their own pocket. My eldest son took our ancient camcorder that no longer worked, along with some extra tapes he found, and had them converted to DVR. I told him where all the other ones were and VHS tapes, as well. We’re going to work on converting them and then isolating certain sections to post on YouTube so we can share clips. Why? Because we want to share them with old friends who were in them.

Watching the DVDs was emotional. The boys were small and oh so cute and there’s my lively Nick, happy and active. My hair is long and dark brown. The house still had the orange shag carpet when we bought it. Because the camcorder was broken and the tapes had deteriorated, the quality wasn’t great in places and it would jump around. My in-laws 50th anniversary was on there and it was wonderful to see them again, young and vibrant.

Did I get a glimpse of Heaven? We were young and happy and living life. One of Nick’s friends called me to say that she dreamed of running into Nick and she said he radiated joy and when she told him she hadn’t seen him in a while and how was he, she said Nick replied in her dream, “Oh, Courtney, I’ve never been so happy. Everything is great! How are YOU doing? I hope you’re happy, too.” Then he waved and walked away. I hope that’s what Heaven is: all of us, together again, radiating joy and love.

Our foster daughter surprised us with a visit! I gave her a few family things (the boys are fine with this as they’ve made it clear they don’t want any of our “junk” and intend to sell or toss most of it, which leaves me clutching my chest, so as I downsize I send a few things her way), a gift card and that was it. I’d sent her a gift check earlier in the month, so we knew she hadn’t been shorted, but I like to keep the gifts sort of even and she didn’t have much to open.

Tony, my eldest son’s best friend, was also there. He has a modern decor in his apartment, so I bought him an offset crystal bowl. He was very pleased with it. He also got wine & a gift card.

Youngest was surprised by a couple of purchases I’d made during our visit to a vintage plane museum at the Grand Canyon, eldest LOVED his amber glass sculpture that is similar to his Lalique.

Dinner was good. The tenderloins were so moist and tender and absolutely perfectly cooked, from well-done ends to medium rare as it approached the middle to rare-but-not-bloody in the middle and tapering back down again. I wasn’t wowed by my gravies this year. Everything else was good to great.

Foster daughter showed us how she could saber-open a bottle of champagne. The cork flew into the pool! It is an artistic event to watch.

My brother and his wife came by and had dessert with us. I gave him the sterling silver butter dish that Mom won during a bridge tournament. It is engraved with a 1967 date and her name. He loved it. I also gave them a lumio. My brother is facing some possible serious health issues. He goes for “second looks” and “scan comparing” next week. If you pray, we’d appreciate a few more.

So next year is decided: no gifts, but some prizes for games. I’m going to put together a saran wrap ball. Eldest is bringing a game called “Thrones”, I think. Apparently it is a funny game where you try to give awful (but funny) finishes to statements. It sounds VERY UN-politically-correct. I’ll give it a go, but have retained the right to drop out. And we’ll play mean Santa, too. I don’t think my boys are completely sold on the idea (the “no gifts” part is okay, they’re just not sure they want to play our dorky reindeer games), but are going along with it.

And that was our day: some laughs, some tears, lots of food, and the two of us turning to each other after they all left and agreeing that despite the pain that still cuts us in two at times, we are truly loved and deeply blessed. I hope you felt the same today. If not, know this: if you and I converse, although we do not know each other face to face, I consider you my beloved friend. May 2017 be good to us all.