And so it begins.
It happens to almost every family and it is really just one of those things that happens as we get older. Now it appears to be my turn to hear those words, “I don’t think I will be home for the Holidays”. Yes you all have heard those words and likely at some point in your life, you were the one that innocently uttered them in a passing conversation.
My eldest Son came home for the weekend for a bit of a “boys” night to celebrate the birthday of one his friends. I always look forward to his visits as a chance to sit and catch up on his life and impart what little wisdom I have even though it is seldom requested.
We (my wife and I) knew that eventually this would happen, particularly as our son’s other half is (as are many) from a divorced family, with parents that live roughly a ten hour drive between them. The timing of his declaration came as I am in conversations with his little brother whom is asking about finishing his high school at a Prep School south of the border. That would officially turn my bride and I into empty nesters, not counting the two dogs of course.
Wow, what will we do with ourselves ? Although I have good friends that have already been down this road, telling of new financial freedom, simply from groceries alone, and the time reclaimed that has been spent on extracurricular activities, I am still unsure that I am ready for the whole empty nest deal.
The holiday season this year will be strange enough, with the passing of a good family friend that always spent Christmas dinner with our family for many years, and in-laws getting older and dealing with their own family dynamics, it will reduce our usual Christmas dinner of twelve to fourteen people this year to four. Odd
As we get older, Christmas becomes less about the commercial aspect and more about family. If you take the family out of Christmas, then what does Christmas become ?
A Caribbean Holiday ?