My grandmother passed away in April of this year and this is my first holiday season without her. I feel very lucky that she was a part of my life for nearly 29 years. Having eight kids and a husband did not stop her from getting her master’s degree and having a career. I hope to end up being half the woman she was.
Almost needless today, with her passing the dynamic of my family has changed and it is something that I can’t ignore this Christmas. A year ago, my parents and I were deciding whose side of the family to see first and who we would eat with – a discussion that came along with every big holiday. During the summer my dad had to move my other grandmother (his mom) to an assisted living facility because she has severe arthritis and it was effecting her mobility. Not good since she lived alone. This year we are inviting our smaller family over to my parents house.
When I called my mom last week to ask her the somewhat depressing question of what we were doing for Christmas, I unexpectedly cried. She told me it was time to make new traditions and promised in the coming years that we would travel for the holidays.
I know that I am not the only commenter on this site who has lost a loved one in the past year. Let’s use this post to talk about the good times with the loved ones we have lost (recently or otherwise as having someone close to us die is never easy) and to help each other get through the next few days.
Original image via flickr.
