Saturday, December 25

Yesterday.....

Yesterday, we had a wonderful dinner; turkey breasts, ham, all the trimmings, pumpkin pie, apple pie and hot apple cider, brimming with cinnamon sticks and clove studded orange slices. I wasn't sure it would all get done and on the table at the time I had said it would - and it didn't. We sat down 50 minutes later. Despite the fact that I have two new wall ovens, they are small enough to prevent more than one or two items being baked at the same time. So, I baked what I could and the rest had to wait. Luckily I had fed most of them sausage biscuits on arrival, so they weren't starved.  Dinner was worth waiting for, however. And there are leftovers!! We will eat like a king and queen here for several days (although mr. kenju has never liked eating left-overs). This time he will have no choice.

Yesterday, the house was filled with our three children, two of their spouses, six grandchildren and the sights and smells of Christmas in the making. Today, they are all gone, and I am teary-eyed for no particular reason that I can pinpoint. Seasonal let-down, I guess.

Did you ever have a strong deja-vu moment?  As we gathered in the living room by the tree to open presents after dinner, memories swarmed in my mind and Christmases past flew by my eyes. The most prominent one was of my eldest grandson when he was about three; the cutest little tyke you'll ever see. He is still cute (just ask the girls) and at age 16, he is over 6'3" and still growing. And then I remembered a photo we have of that little guy with our first granddaughter (who is now 15) sitting in a living room chair, side-by-side. They adored each other when they were younger, and the girl would follow the boy all through the house, calling him  "My  (his name)." I have always enjoyed watching the grand children interact, and yesterday was no exception. Their delight on opening presents was fairly palpable - and the array of various technologies was mind-boggling!  Grandpa and I have been (mentally) left behind, no doubt. Technology is changing so rapidly that by the time we learn one, it is obsolete.

Then I remembered Christmases when my children were small; "D" in his white shirt, red tie and blue velvet shorts (age two), enthralled with his new red plush hobby horse....."S" in her pj's and robe (age 4), loving her new Fisher-Price doll house....and "A"....lying in her plastic baby carrier in the middle of  a mound of cast-off wrapping paper and ribbons, eyes wide and wondering what the heck is going on?!  (age 3 mos.)

And so, the house is quiet now and I am left with my old memories; wondering how many more years I will get to be here, making new memories. Please God....let it be a while.


16 comments:

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I can understand the let-down Judy...You go at such a whirlwind pace leading up to your Christmas Celebration---and then, suddenly, it's over. It sounds like it was another memorable Family Gathering, my dear....And to still have everyone there on the special day---Before you know it, the Grandchildren begin to make their own Christmas Celbrations....It all goes so fast, doesn't it? Your dinner sounds scrumptious and I would LOVE the Left-overs...lol!
And now you can rest a bit, my dear, and enjoy the thoughts of all those wonderful Chrustmas Celbrations that took place with so much Joy!
Merry Christmas, dear Judy. I gave Betty your message--from ou and Mr. Kenhu--She was very touched!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Everything you shared I surely understand.
I have 3 grandchildren in college and two litle ones . Want so to be able to see them grow. So many memories. Yesterday the house was full and now at this moment grandma is alone with the snow rapidly falling.
I have had the tears also but at the moment I know life has given me so many blessings.

tiff said...

I hope you have many many more!

It's good to have those wonderful memories - they speak of a rich life.

carmilevy said...

I'm hoping to a higher power, too, that we have many more years of you, Judy. I feel like I've lived more richly thanks to the glimpses you've shared of your family.

And I'll politely disagree about your "left behind" thought. You're a grandma who writes her own (amazing) blog. I come from a family where the grandparents' generation is challenged to send and receive e-mail. You're a tech superstar in anyone's book.

sage said...

This was a Christmas without any family... Last night the Candlelight Service at church, today opening presents, listening to the crackle of the fire, trying to put together my daughter's weather station while she plays with electronic toys of which I'm clueless... Merry Christmas, Kenju, and may you have many, many more.

Chancy said...

Oh Judy That is so sweet. I also hope to be here awhile longer to enjoy the grown children and grandchildren. And don't you think the let down feeling we have after Christmas is sadness for old times past but also just plain old tiredness.

Have a blessed New Year my friend.

Arkansas Patti said...

Christmas really is for the younger children isn't it? That is where the really neat memories are. Once they hit teen and over, a lot of the wonder and excitement of the day is gone and we can't help but miss it.
You will be there for many more Judy, you are needed.

Kay Dennison said...

Sounds like an awesome day!!!!


Hey, Sis? I'm not going anywhere so you can't either!!!!!! Okay?

Travelin'Oma said...

You've expressed such lovely thoughts here. My grandkids got techno-wonders that I can't fathom and my 5-year-old figured out my new camera (something I haven't done yet!)

srp said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful day... we used Nyssa's laptop to show Mom and Dad how they could talk to Stephen and see him at the same time. Of course Mom was shocked that he could see her and without her wig at that.
Late this afternoon while I was trying to add a wireless access point to the wired internet network of our house and setting up the new laptop Mom bought for herself, I looked over and realized that it was quiet except for the pings and beeps of the electronic devices. Mom had her Kindle and was reading the dictionary (yes, she reads cookbooks and dictionaries), Nyssa was learning her way around her iPad that Stephen got her and Dad was playing Shanghai on a Nintendo DS that Nyssa got him and which I really thought he would have no interest in... again, I was wrong. It dawned on me that the ONLY breathing creature in the house without an electronic device in hand was Daisy... the dog... she was asleep on the rug.

And now... it is snowing.. already three inches and much more expected tomorrow. We got in the hot tub and watched it fall. Unfortunately, Nyssa has to leave on Monday and I thought it was Tuesday and if there is as much snow as they are saying... well, I have no idea how I will get to the airport. I told her we would have to leave really early and find a dog sled to go in.

Have a wonderful snowy day!

Pat said...

Christmas is an emotional time. I just have to see the Queen giving her speech and I get misty eyed remembering the fifty odd years of past Christmases when she was the one constant in a fast changing world. I see her and remember my parents and so much more.
I'm so glad you had your family round you and it all went well.

Grannymar said...

Judy, that low feeling is probably delayed tiredness. Give in for a day or two to let your body refresh.

Carver said...

Beautiful post Judy and I hope you have many, many more years ahead! I hope you are staying warm. The snow is really starting to pile up now.

Ruth said...

Christmas really is so much about memories, and children. I am looking forward to grandkids one day soon, I hope. It sounds like you had that full soul time that Christmas is so good at rekindling.

Tracy said...

Judy,
That was a lovely post and most sentimental. The holidays are such a build-up and then in a flash, it's over but we do have the memories as you mentioned so envelop yourself in them and a good time to write the thank you notes as they will truly reflect your true thoughts and feelings.

I hope you are surviving the snow with all those delicious left-overs, although I'm like Mr. Kenju; I'm not a fan of left-overs....
hugs...

Tabor said...

You have brought tears to my eyes because these thoughts and memories are so close to my own. We try to hard to hand on to what was and are so delighted at what has become.