**Written on Christmas Eve and scheduled for Christmas morning. And yes, I know it’s supposed to be TMI Thursday, but some things are more important than poop. Yeah, I said it. Merry Freaking Christmas, y’all.**
Right now, I am surrounded by my amazing and hilarious family in my grandparents’ house. This is the house that means Christmas and family and warmth and happiness to me, more than any other place in the world. I am getting choked up watching the man that I love converse with my grandfather. I am reveling in the opportunity to help my grandmother put dinner on the table. There is way too much food, the stockings are overflowing, and the presents are growing exponentially underneath the impressive tree.
Laughter echoes throughout the bustling rooms. Every corner of this house radiates with my family’s history; where I come from, and how I came to be what, where and who I am.
This is one of the last of many, many Christmases I have spent in this remarkable house, and I’m frantically trying to savor each minute… to sear into my brain every detail of her mannerisms, every nuance of his movements, for safekeeping.
Because it won’t always be this way. They’re in their eighties, and I know at some point the inevitable will come to pass. It has to, as unimaginable as it may seem today, as I walk around the home they’ve spent a lifetime in together. They are my childhood, my history, my genes. They created the chances that I’ve had. They made my life possible. They made it amazing.
Today, I am grateful that I get to share this experience, this enormous part of who I am, with the man of my dreams. I am grateful that he will see it and know it and understand when I make demands about traditions and the way things have to be over the next 50 Christmases. I am grateful that I ever had it to begin with, as I know so many of you out there come from families who struggle over the holidays, or even ignore them entirely, rather than relish every second of the schmoopy togetherness of it all.
Believe me, friend… I know how goddamn lucky I am.
This evening, my grandmother turned to me in the kitchen as I relished the opportunity to help her prepare hors d’oeuvres (and wine, of course).
“He’s a good one,” she said, pointedly. “You hold on to him.”
“I know, Gram. He really is.”
“I have a good one too,” she said thoughtfully, my Papa shining in her mind’s eye.
“You sure do,” I smiled. “So does my mama [her daughter].”
“She does,” my grandma agreed.
“But honestly, with such amazing role models, how could I settle for anything less?” I asked, meaning every word of it.
“That’s true. You couldn’t,” she agreed. “I’m just so glad…” She trailed off, but we both knew what she meant… I’m so glad to know that you found that Special One… while I was still around to see it.
So am I, Gram. And thank you, so much, for showing me what that kind of love really means.
Merry Christmas, everyone… I hope you enjoy yours as much as I will mine.
XOXO,
LiLu
{ 18 comments }
merry Christmas to you. It’s good to acknowledge your luck. Yes you are lucky to have role models of love. I am happy for you you found your match
What a beautiful post to read this Christmas morning! Have a great Christmas!
Herb
(By the way, I am serving Holiday Sangria today!)
sigh. so happy lilu, that you get to experience such a sweet, sentimental tradition with b. you sound so happy. im so happy for that, for you.
i would give anything to have my grandparents here today. ANYTHING. it’s the first one without them, and every other year was so much of what you described right here.
so, yes… take it all in. live in every single moment and just be.
heart you lady, merry christmas.
Ah! Isn’t that cute. While you’re bonding with a loving family, I’m driving home in a rental car and nothing but my jeans and lacy bra as my sister sleeps. So jealous!
Merry Christmas, miss lady!
Merry Christmas! Sounds like you’re having a fantastic one
Ok Little Sis!
Got through the WHOLE morning without a tear ( this from Mrs Weepy) then I read this…eyes leaking into wine.
Oh well dilution is a good thing, right?
Love to you and B and Yours
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Life on Edge: Me too, dear. Merry Christmas!
Herb: Thank you so much… and I’m sure it will be FABULOUS. I’ve been drinking Mexican Eggnog all day, and YES, there is tequila…
Brookem: I was thinking of your post as I wrote this. Soon I will be in your shoes… and I’ll be looking for your understanding shoulder to cry on. But until that day, please know that I am so grateful for each moment. I only wish I could give you some moments with yours as well…
Miss Scorpio: THAT, my dear, is a guaranteed blog post… can’t wait to read it!
Maxie: Merry Christmas to you too! I surely am, and hope you are as well
Fiona: I’m sorry! But it’s true. I know your Christmas out west is just as magical. *HUGE GIGANTIC BEAR HUG* Now pass the wine.
Tear.
Merry Christmas.
This was really beautiful. My grandparents on my mom’s side died a long time ago–my maternal grandpa before I was born.
I never had the opportunity to introduce Chef to my grandparents on my fathers side…they lived in Israel and passed away within the past seven years…and that is always something I wish I could have done with him…have him meet the incredible people in my extended family abroad.
My great aunt was as close to me as a grandmother and lived in New York. Chef spent time with her and that was one of the most important things to me. She is a survivor of Auschwitz and I know she feared me dating a nonJew.
To have them meet and bond and get her blessing before she died was enormous.
You are lucky for this moment and this day and all the days to come and I am so happy for you.
Merry Christmas sweetheart. xoxo
And from one girl with an amazing family to another–cherish it. As we get older…each and every day I see more and more broken families…our families are a rare breed and I am glad you see that and appreciate it for the enormity of what it is worth.
xoxo
So if I was hoping to get through Christmas without tears, you just broke me.
So happy for you darlin’. So very happy.
Aww, Merry Christmas! this made me tear up a little!
Oh, sweetie, you just made me cry. I’m glad you had a wonderful Christmas with family. Hugs to you.
SingleGirl: To you as well, lovely.
Kass: You know exactly what I mean. Merry Christmas to you as well, my dear. Can’t wait to see you soon
Kate: Thank you so much
LMO: Sorry for the tearjerker!
Lisa: I truly did- I hope you did as well. *Hug*
That’s really, really beautiful. I think I DID get some sentiment on my shirt (love that title!).
Awww…That was a beautiful post! Sometimes I wish I lived far away so I could go “home” for the holidays, but my entire family lives here in the DC area. No 12 hour drives for us! Merry Christmas!
I know I’m late but Merry Christmas
Ok so you just made me cry! I am so thankful you two found each other…you don’t even know.
Merry Christmas doll, love ya.
Aw, this was an awesome post! I absolutely love it.
Merry Christmas (a bit late)!
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