Merry Christmas

On the morning of Christmas Eve, my husband and I were having a cup of coffee over conversation of the demise of the Spears sisters (Britney and Jaime Lynn) when I looked up to find my mother had dressed my five-year old daughter in a vaguely familiar ensemble. It was a dress my grandmother had made for me in the early 80s, I believe I wore it for my first grade class photo. At first I was surprised to see the dress since I hadn’t even thought of it for at least 20 years, but then I was shocked when I could see that it mostly fit my daughter’s skinny frame. Although I was about a year older when I wore it, my daughter is much taller than I was at age five, so the overall fit wasn’t too bad.

Issabel flew into the living room, gave a twirl and a laugh and exited nearly as quickly as she had arrived. I looked down as tears pooled in my eyes. My husband gave me a puzzled look and asked if I was upset over our conversation about Jaime Lynn Spears getting pregnant at 16. As upsetting as that thought is, that was not why I was getting emotional. The true reason was because I specifically remember wearing that exact dress while running down the halls of my grade school holding Anna’s hand. And it was then that I realized Issabel is now the age Anna and I were when we met and became lifelong friends.

Christmas is a time for being thankful and grateful for friends and family. Christmas is a time to slow down and appreciate what matters most – from honoring family to spirituality to charity. It wasn’t until that moment yesterday morning that I absorbed the spirit of Christmas this year. I’ve been moving so fast this season, feeling behind on my decorating, shopping and getting my Christmas cards finished (by the way, if you haven’t seen yours yet it is coming) that I nearly let the bigger picture slide past me.

I hope everyone had a lovely and healthy holiday this year, in addition I hope everyone has at least one dear friend, either a new friend or a lifelong friend, that they are thankful for this season. As Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “No man is useless while he has a friend.”

Merry Christmas!

Issabel - 2007

Nicole - 1981