A Christmas To Remember

This Christmas was one I will remember for the rest of my life. It wasn't like any others I have had in the past. The last several were either meh or barely celebrated. Many reasons why and not enough time to really get too in depth about it all, but long story short, there have been lots of problems and issues with certain folks within the family on one side or the other and it has made celebrating a difficult task.

Earlier this year I wrote a letter to my step-Mom, who I consider my Mom more than my biological Mom, but that's a whole other story. So I wrote this letter a while back basically venting and giving the entire family the business because I was sick and tired of nobody having their shit together and ruining Christmas, birthdays, and other holidays. I called on them all to do better and to set aside the petty BS for these occasions and just enjoy each other's company.

Then there's my Dad, who I have had a rocky relationship with my entire life. I love him dearly and he is my only Dad so we try to get along but usually at some point things go sour and we have words and then we won't speak for a while and then we try again, only to end up back where we were. Well, lately his health hasn't been very good. In addition to battling Leukemia for quite a while now, he had a series of strokes not very long ago and has had a rough time as of late.

My Pops called me a couple days ago before Christmas eve and he was telling me how his legs weren't working and had fallen a couple times and couldn't get up and had to call out from work, and is trying to get his strength back. This is not my Dad, he's always been a "tough guy" so-to-speak, so it's hard to hear this is what he's dealing with now.

I had no plans of visiting this Christmas until this point. I felt after speaking with him, that regardless of all BS in the past, I wanted to go visit, but instead of telling him, I wanted it to be surprise, because I knew they weren't going to be expecting me and my wife showing up. They figured money was tight and that we were staying home, again.

Well, my wife went out and picked up some gifts with my guidance and we hit the road. We stayed at my wife's parents on Christmas Eve which is on the way to my parent's. It was a blessing to all of us, and we were grateful to cut our driving time on Christmas day. We showed up at my parent's door with gifts in hand and knocked on the door.

My Dad answered, with big wide eyes like WTF is going on, then I told him Merry Christmas, he broke down in tears and gave me the biggest hug he has ever given me in my entire life and told me how happy he was to see me and couldn't believe we were there and how he was just telling my step-mom that he wished that I could be there for Christmas this year.

My Dad has never shown me this much emotion in his life or this much appreciation and love. He told me how he had been recently diagnosed with bi-polar and had been dealing with this his entire life but he was ashamed and never sought help until he had the stroke.

With everything that has happened, he was ready to deal with it and ever since being on medication he has realized a lot of things and cares about things he never cared about before. My Dad cried like a baby as I put my arm around him and forgave him for years of BS and told him it's going to be alright and that I love him no matter what.

The rest of the day was all joy and happiness. We went and visited some old friends I grew up with but haven't seen since the wedding 6 years ago. Then we met back up with the family at my sister's house, where it's typically BS, but on this day, everybody, including me, set aside our differences and just spread the love and had a good time.

After we left, my phone was blowing up with "Best Christmas Ever" text messages from everybody, including my Dad.

 

Thank you guys, I appreciate the kind words!

 

Thanks guys, glad you found it to be a positive post. It’s personal but thought it was worth sharing with my surfer buds.

 

Thanks bud, Merry Christmas to you and yours!