Well it's been a several weeks since I last posted to this journal, blog, whatever you wish to call it. Thanksgiving has come and gone, Black Friday, and its insanity has luckily come and gone as well. One of the traditions mini me and I have, and I am sure families throughout the nation have the same tradition, of saying what we are thankful for.
So here is what I give thanks for:
My father: for teaching me a man is only as good as the word he gives.
My family: for knowing some journeys need to be done alone
Mini-me's mom: for showing me that dignity and poise in the face of a terrible disease
My friends: for being supportive and understanding
Lastly, and most importantly
Mini me: because of what he is thankful for. As we sat to have dinner, he was thankful because he was able to get to know his mother. For those who don't know, his mother passed away recently after a prolonged battle with multiple sclerosis. It is a terrible disease and throughout it all, I made sure he and her had a relationship. For him to say what he said, made everything worthwhile.
The last few weeks since my last post haven't changed my mood though. I still cannot get into the holiday spirit. Given the last eight months, it is understandable. I am sure I will get in the mood, or at least fake it enough so that mini me is happy. I think one of the reasons is because it appears the holiday season had descended into little more than crass commercialization and consumerism. Witness the scene in CA where the lady pepper sprayed a crowd to get what by all accounts was a video game.
No the holidays aren't want they used to be anymore for me. It is about family, friends, fun and laughter. Watching football on Thanksgiving. Sharing stories and good food both Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season. Which brings me to a point. As a child, I remember watching the annual football games that Dallas and Detroit hosted.
Not once did I have to sit through a Viagra/Cialis commercial. Why then now? It is a big let down when in the middle of a relaxing day, I have to explain to my son what bad - though some would say good - could be derived from a pharmaceutically induced 4-hours erection. Seriously, what the hell! The only saving grace was I was explaining to my son. If he were a she, I shudder to think the way that talk would have gone.
So the holidays then in this household are going to be a very low key affair. Not somber just low key. Who knows, perhaps we'll spend the day watching "It's A Wonderful Life" or " A Christmas Story" At least then I won't have to worry about programming that denounces a nano-second nipple shot but allows for 5 minutes of programming every hour based on sexual dysfunction, if only because the latter makes someone a dime.
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Routines
So it's been a while. Looking at what I have posted, about 2 weeks. Forgive my lapses. It has been interesting to say the least. Being sick recently really upsets the routines I have set up. Or rather the routines foisted upon me: sleep, work, dad obligations: repeat daily.
Actually the routines aren't that bad. Given the last decade or so, I had become comfortable in that rut. But it's that time of year when I was able to step out of that rut and created surprises around the holidays. I like to think I knew what the holidays were about: family, fun, laughter, that crazy drunk uncle, etc, but ever since mini me came along, it has changed. It's become about getting him that gift that screams "this is perfect." Therein lies the surprises I so loved.
Now the surprises I am talking about were all geared towards making sure mini me and his mom had the best of relationships given her condition. Actually used a line to describe these surprises: "His mom got him the cool stuff, I got him socks and underwear." It was really cool to see both their eyes light up Christmas morning. I had it arranged with the place she was at that the gifts would be there Christmas morning, so that I was absolved of any involvement in his eyes. To mini-me, his mom possessed some magical quality that she just knew what he wanted.
I don't have that anymore and to be frank, I don't know what to do. It was suggested that I have a package delivered from his mom, or talk to the hospice she was at and have one there and they would call him. But I don't know about that. The last decade has been rough, and as much as I want him to remember his mom, I think he needs closure. So I really don't know how to go about doing Christmas this year. Oh I am sure he'll get something cool. Probably a TV for his room so I can liberate my living room from the game consoles.
It just seems different though. I guess you can say empty. Should I chalk this up to "the firsts," but it is more than that. More like, I cannot get into the spirit so to speak. Normally this time of year I have already shopped for those surprises, or in one instance, I was able to arrange it to get her out of her hospice and see one of his school's holiday concerts - that was still the best gift of all. All he used to say when asked was "my mom is sick." That night though, my efforts paid off. Mini me took his mom around, with his school principal and gave her a grand tour of his school, showing her every classroom he had ever been in, introducing her to every teacher he had ever had. As high as that night was emotionally, this year is just flat lining.
I don't know though. Perhaps the holiday surprise will be a trip to some ski slopes. I think a change of scenery for this first holiday may be best. We'll see where the next month takes me.
On a side note, I was able to get out into the social scene. Don't know what to make of it yet. But had a great time hiking through the nation's capital. It was interesting to show some sights, a couple museums which are part of the Smithsonian complex, the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Wish I could have shown more, but there is never enough time in the weekend to see all that DC has to offer.
Recipe of this post: I took a beef roast and pan seared it to just brown on all sides. Threw it in the crock pot with onions, black beans and some chili adobo for about 6 hrs. Then I pulled the roast apart and we had burritos with home made salsa and rice. A really good meal. I'll need to remember that next time I do the roast. Perhaps that would be good for leftovers. Then again with mini me going through growth spurts nonstop, what are leftovers.
Until next time, keep safe and keep smiling
Actually the routines aren't that bad. Given the last decade or so, I had become comfortable in that rut. But it's that time of year when I was able to step out of that rut and created surprises around the holidays. I like to think I knew what the holidays were about: family, fun, laughter, that crazy drunk uncle, etc, but ever since mini me came along, it has changed. It's become about getting him that gift that screams "this is perfect." Therein lies the surprises I so loved.
Now the surprises I am talking about were all geared towards making sure mini me and his mom had the best of relationships given her condition. Actually used a line to describe these surprises: "His mom got him the cool stuff, I got him socks and underwear." It was really cool to see both their eyes light up Christmas morning. I had it arranged with the place she was at that the gifts would be there Christmas morning, so that I was absolved of any involvement in his eyes. To mini-me, his mom possessed some magical quality that she just knew what he wanted.
I don't have that anymore and to be frank, I don't know what to do. It was suggested that I have a package delivered from his mom, or talk to the hospice she was at and have one there and they would call him. But I don't know about that. The last decade has been rough, and as much as I want him to remember his mom, I think he needs closure. So I really don't know how to go about doing Christmas this year. Oh I am sure he'll get something cool. Probably a TV for his room so I can liberate my living room from the game consoles.
It just seems different though. I guess you can say empty. Should I chalk this up to "the firsts," but it is more than that. More like, I cannot get into the spirit so to speak. Normally this time of year I have already shopped for those surprises, or in one instance, I was able to arrange it to get her out of her hospice and see one of his school's holiday concerts - that was still the best gift of all. All he used to say when asked was "my mom is sick." That night though, my efforts paid off. Mini me took his mom around, with his school principal and gave her a grand tour of his school, showing her every classroom he had ever been in, introducing her to every teacher he had ever had. As high as that night was emotionally, this year is just flat lining.
I don't know though. Perhaps the holiday surprise will be a trip to some ski slopes. I think a change of scenery for this first holiday may be best. We'll see where the next month takes me.
On a side note, I was able to get out into the social scene. Don't know what to make of it yet. But had a great time hiking through the nation's capital. It was interesting to show some sights, a couple museums which are part of the Smithsonian complex, the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Wish I could have shown more, but there is never enough time in the weekend to see all that DC has to offer.
Recipe of this post: I took a beef roast and pan seared it to just brown on all sides. Threw it in the crock pot with onions, black beans and some chili adobo for about 6 hrs. Then I pulled the roast apart and we had burritos with home made salsa and rice. A really good meal. I'll need to remember that next time I do the roast. Perhaps that would be good for leftovers. Then again with mini me going through growth spurts nonstop, what are leftovers.
Until next time, keep safe and keep smiling
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