It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… EVERYYYWHERE you go. (And yes, now the song is stuck in my head)
The moment I start to see the first few Christmas lights, my heart is immediately full of happiness. Growing up, Christmas was always magical. My grandpa was the type to go all in by decorating the entire house with lights, blow-ups, reindeer, the whole nine yards. One year, he even lined the entire living room ceiling with ornaments, perfectly spaced. When he passed, my grandma kept that spirit alive in every way she could.
For the last ten years, we’ve traveled from Hawaii and now Kansas back to California to spend Christmas with our families. On my side, that meant time with my grandma, my mom, siblings and nieces and nephews. Since moving to Kansas, it hasn’t been as easy. My sister moved here and leaving her alone is hard. One year, we got COVID on our road trip back. The next year, I was deathly ill and couldn’t stop vomiting for at least a full day of driving. Let’s just say my husband has basically said no to road trips moving forward.
This year a lot has changed, and we won’t be traveling to California for Christmas anymore. My grandma packed 60+ years of her life from California and moved it all to Missouri to be closer to me and my sister. This is our first Christmas at her new home, and I cannot wait to make new memories with her. This is true for all of the holidays, including Thanksgiving. Until this year, I hadn’t spent Thanksgiving with my grandma in over a decade.
As the years pass, my husband and I have felt the weight of living far from our grandparents and family. The unknown of how many more holidays we’ll have with them is becoming heavier. It makes me even more grateful for all the times we have shown up, no matter how awful the travel was.
This year, we get to share new family traditions and keep the spirit alive for the next generation of children all while sitting at the same table as my grandma in her house. I will never take for granted how unbelievably fortunate I am.
To the years we don’t know we have and the years we have already lived. Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Rachel – I can’t decide. I can never pick a picture. The first one is an awful picture but honestly the best out of three pictures we took. Lol (peep Mikey in the back passed out). Then you have just me and my grandma.
