The Five
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There are only five left. Five siblings out of nine. Two died this last year. One of them in their nineties, one in his late eighties. For the most part, they have been a remarkably long-lived family. I'm speaking about my wife's father and his brothers and sisters.
Last night the remaining five met on Christmas Eve, once again. One sister left, now 90. Brothers aged 87, 85, 81 and the "baby" who is now 77.
I remember over forty years ago, when all nine would gather. And most of their children, with some of the grandchildren. Back then, they gathered at the old home place, where their mother still lived. Big country family, food everywhere, but mostly piled on the kitchen countertop or on an old green, fifties, chrome and formica table. Too many people in too small of a house. Eating, while balancing a plate on your lap or if you got lucky, maybe standing by the chest freezer on the back porch, where at least you could set your plate on something solid.
I always liked to eat outside, anyway. Old house had an Ashley wood heater and they'd have that house waaaay too hot. Some folks think when it's cold outside, you have to have a sauna inside. I'm not one of them. I didn't mind the cold of eating outside, but you did have to stay on your toes...The kids usually hurried up and finished their food, so they could shoot fireworks. Few things liven up chicken & dressing, like bottle rocket seasoning.
When everybody was through eating, whatever "big" fireworks the kids (or some of us younger adults) had, would be fired off one after another, with the biggest and best saved for last. After the last fireworks were finished, it was the time to clean up the dishes and let the individual families head back home for their Christmas gifts or for whatever traditions they had.
You know, that bunch of siblings always fought like cats and dogs. Always seemed like one was pissed at another for some silly or goofy reason. But Christmas...Christmas can have its own magic. Maybe because of the season, maybe because of tradition, but for whatever reason, hatchets got buried, nobody decided to wake up the proverbial sleeping dogs, and the siblings could meet for Christmas and affirm what family meant, once again.
Four down. Five to go. Maybe another one this year, maybe not. But time cannot be defeated or ignored, so each Christmas Eve nowadays takes on a bit more meaning, even though the gatherings have become smaller.
Nobody lives in the old place, but the shell of the house still stands. Last night they gathered at a brother's place, just across the road. Haven't been any fireworks in a few years...Not enough great-grands to carry on the tradition, I guess. Maybe this was the last meeting. Or maybe next year. But just as people live a finite life, so everything eventually comes to an end.
I'm sad to see the end, but it's been fun. And there have been a lot of good memories. Lots of good memories.
I think that is what Christmas is about. A special time of year, full of hope, but also a time to live in the moment, making the memories that become special. A time to look forward, but a time to remember and reflect.
May all your Christmas memories bring a smile to your face.
Merry Christmas, y'all...
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Thanks for posting that, and yes, a great time to reflect.
The last of my parent's generation, my mother's brother, we lost in 2016. We've already lost one from my generation, a first cousin who died from Covid in 2021.
We were a bit spread out so we didn't see them all of them for Christmas as far as I remember. We all got together for weddings and funerals though.
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I'm no Aqua, but occasionally I try to stumble through something.
It's been a quiet day. The wife played for church this morning, which was a minor miracle. At midnight, she was still sick...Tummy problems from the meds I guess...She's having a major flare-up, since she started her new biologic. Having to use a cane to get around...But you don't miss Christmas service. And the service was good. A Christmas day service is always more special.
Saw my daughter's family last night. Son's family won't be here until the 29th. Don't understand why some dialysis patients just have to have dialysis during a holiday.
Our plans for this afternoon changed, because the flu bug hit our friend's family...We'll catch up on that later in the week. Same for gifts for the grands...That will be after my son comes in.Think I may fire up the flivver come dark-thirty and see if I can find a Christmas light or two...
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I'm no Aqua, but occasionally I try to stumble through something.
It's been a quiet day. The wife played for church this morning, which was a minor miracle. At midnight, she was still sick...Tummy problems from the meds I guess...She's having a major flare-up, since she started her new biologic. Having to use a cane to get around...But you don't miss Christmas service. And the service was good. A Christmas day service is always more special.
Saw my daughter's family last night. Son's family won't be here until the 29th. Don't understand why some dialysis patients just have to have dialysis during a holiday.
Our plans for this afternoon changed, because the flu bug hit our friend's family...We'll catch up on that later in the week. Same for gifts for the grands...That will be after my son comes in.Think I may fire up the flivver come dark-thirty and see if I can find a Christmas light or two...
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Great story @Jolly :couple_with_heart:
