Our “Best Christmas Ever” is over and I’m shedding my first tears of the day. Happy tears, sad tears, funny tears, grateful tears. The #SNL “Best Christmas Ever” skit with Matt Damon a couple weeks ago was perfect in every way! The chaos, arguing, kid fighting, crying, laughing and end of evening glass (bottle) of vino that makes you forget how many times you rolled your eyes or sighed today, BUT because it was indeed perfect.
We’re so lucky! Christmas can be such a rough day for others, for many different reasons. I’m grateful that my current version of “rough” pales in comparison to some. Not because I’m happy others have it worse, just sticking to my “it can always be worse” premise.
So why the tears? And what made today the “best”. Well, they’re happy & sad tears. My c-word has been a good distraction to this being first holiday season without my dad. Now, mind you, he stayed in Florida the last few years for the holidays, but even the comical calls were missed. The checks he’d send us for birthdays, he and Mary singing happy birthday on voicemail or to us, etc. When I found out my diagnosis, I was at least happy I didn’t have to tell him. He would’ve been so upset, then confused, then upset, then ask the same questions over and over which would in-turn make me laugh.
My mom and step-dad often don’t make the trip to Columbus for the holidays but actually planned on it this year. Then moms heart-attack/surgery messed up those plans too. The in-laws have been here for Christmas since Maria was born, but this year, they couldn’t make it either. Needless to say, there were some differences to this Christmas. BUT, it was still one of “the best”!
Life happens! It happens whether we are in it or not. So regardless of the changes that occur in our lives, we really have no choice but to make the best of it! My diagnosis may cause my life expectancy to be shortened by a decade or three…OR maybe not! Who knows! I’m not super interested in seeing the 85-year old version of me anyway, but that’s a whole other story.
I can tell you one thing – PINK apparently is my new black. I LOVE my friends and family for all the gifts, ornaments & such, but there’s a reason why pink wasn’t in my wardrobe prior to giving birth to a girl. PINK has been the theme since November 8th. Mainly from the family. It’s incredibly thoughtful and has been cute with the girls & friends, but today I said “let’s hold off on it for a bit.” I can’t have it define me. Breast Cancer is a life-changer, but not an identity, I think. ?
So, What else made this the “best ever” Christmas? Simple things. The kids slept until 7am, which is a first! I woke without drain pain, Santa and elves rocked the gifts!, the hubs got to stay in jammies the entire day, we had the biggest crab leg ever with friends, Great-Grandma and Aunt Robin slept over to see the girls open gifts, Maria watched an entire movie with her parents solo, etc etc. Many reasons to call it one of “the Best”.
So the eyes are getting heavy and I’m running low on anything profound to say. So Merry Christmas to all & to all a GOODNIGHT!
~disclaimer~
this was completed 11:55pm 12/25/18, yet published 12/26 because the author fell asleep before hitting publish?oops!