Christmas used to mean my big Italian family, snow, cold crisp air, trips into the city to see the tree light in Rockefeller Center surrounded by skaters and crowds, carolling with my friends, lots of hot chocolate, parties and many, many layers of clothes.
It’s different now. I have no parents or grand parents. I have new friends and can’t get north to see the old ones. It doesn’t snow and it rarely gets cold enough for hot chocolate, or more “layers” than a sweater or Henley over my tee shirt. Yesterday I wore cut off jeans and my beach shoes with no socks.
It’s colder today because it’s raining and we can’t carol downtown for the old fashioned Christmas event because we got rained out. By the weekend we will probably be able to hit the beach for a walk or sunset in just shorts and maybe a light jacket.
I miss my family. I am the only one left standing and that’s hard. But the thing is … I have a family. I have Beth, the most amazing wife anyone could have and we still have little Taylor, the world’s cutest dog. Our friends are many and great. They love and support us and surround us. Mary and Ray and Marie will eat Christmas dinner here and who knows who else will show up to eat Beth’s cookies, breads and cakes (the woman is a baking machine).
New years eve and day we will gather together, eat, drink and laugh. Everyone will stuff themselves with my collards so we all have good luck through the next year (so far – it’s worked).
Tonight, it’s raining. Beth is getting going on the batter for the millions of cookies she will make. The Christmas music is playing on the IPod. I will crack a good bottle of Pinot Noir, enjoy dinner and cuddle on the couch with my little family. I am hundreds of miles from home. Yet, I am home. I have my family and while it’s different than the Christmases of old – it’s not better, it’s not worse. It just is … and I am very lucky that it is!