I miss my family. I miss running around through snow covered fields and rows of trees while we pick out the perfect evergreen. I miss feeling the snow fall down the back of my shirt as I saw away at the base of a shaking tree. I miss dodging snowballs thrown by kids dodging in and out of the trees while we drag our living room centerpiece back to the trailer.
I miss diving into the sled and yelling for that little kid to get out of the way, lest he is launched into the air by a piece of racing plastic supporting too many bodies. I miss feeling the air slice by my head, turning my ears and nose bright red as I race my brother down the hill and then quickly tumble out of the sled just in time to avoid the creek at the bottom of the hill. I miss coming home and stripping off layers of coats, sweaters, shirts and socks and then sipping eggnog and hot chocolate and talking to other rosy cheeked smiling faces.
I miss the Christmas carols and long rides through the country side eyeing glittering houses and standing face to face with giant nut-crackers, Santa Clauses and snow men. I miss trying to remember the words that form each of the twelve days of Christmas with my brothers and sisters. I miss the beautifully decorated table, the food and the four candles of advent that now stand at staggered heights while we eat and laugh and open the one little present that sits beside each of our plates.
I miss the soft glow of the Christmas tree decorated with a hodgepodge of ornaments and multi-colored lights. I miss early Christmas mornings when it seems that dad is taking a very, very long time to read the Christmas story. I miss the kids and presents and piles of wrapping paper spread all over the living room, making it nearly impossible to navigate without tripping.
I miss my family at Christmas.
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2 comments:
Hi Phil!
So many things are changing ... it's hard to get used to it. Just wanted to let you know that the feeling is mutual ... we miss you and wish you could have been here. Family is such an important thing ... and it seems to me that there is a connection between us and the place we grew up in some oft unstated but very real way. Merry Christmas, Phil! Thanks for the "hot chips" ... your merry greetings warmed our hearts this Christmas. Hope you had a great one with Melissa!
Your bro,
Stephen
You are not the only one who didn't get to spend Christmas with your family. I did, however, get to spend Christmas Eve with my family, so I suppose it's not the same, but I still missed Christmas dinner, one of the biggest Christmas traditions in our family. We did, however, get to spend Christmas with Matt's mom's family. Perhaps I'm a little resentful of that. Once you get married, though, be prepared that you will probably spend more time with the family that lives closest (whether that is your family or Melissa's). That's how it is with me and Matt. We spend more time with Matt's family because they live in Plant City, not east of Orlando.
Ok, enough ranting for now. You can look at my xanga site if you want to read more about what's going on with me. Send me an email sometime. Matt and I miss you guys!
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