My best friend and long time business partner, Marie, has all her kids and grandchildren visiting this holiday season. Kristie and Chris came from New Zealand with their two little boys, Julie came from Sweden where she is doing post law studies, Jimmie has been delayed by major structural damage to his house in Vashon, Washington, by the big storm ten days ago. Tom, a Floridian, has just graduated from FSU, so he's there. The New Zealanders have no idea what day or time it is so they sleep and wake at odd hours. It will take a few days.
Marie is thrilled to have them all there. She cleans up the debris from Christmas, wonders how they'll all make it in the confines of the house. She loves the interactions among her children, talking their heads off all night. She loves seeing the grandchildren she's not seen in a year. I know she'll be touching them a lot, amazed and delighted at their growth, the feel of them. The smallest grandson is ethereally beautiful, as we've seen from internet photos. But what is he really like? So much to discover, so many conversations to have.
Parents of adult children, get that wonderful feeling of anticipation when their offspring are about to come 'home'. Probably about ten minutes into the visit the parents realize that their carefully constructed routines will be smashed to smithereens. All the available surfaces will be populated with tiny vehicles and little "guys" guaranteed to cripple a grandparent who steps on them in the dark, sippy cups congregating on tables, wastebaskets full of spent diapers, and baskets full of laundry to be done. But mostly we love it!
This Christmas was a 'first' for us. We have no decorations, no Christmas tree, no wrappings to be stuffed into a dumpster. We spent Christmas morning with our daughter and her partner and their two year old. It was a lovely occasion and we had the family brunch of smoked salmon and all the works after the gifts. Quincy, the baby, was thrilled with his new toys. After all this, we drove back home in horrible weather and spent the first Christmas ever not having to do a big dinner for dozens. The power was out for several hours and we were glad to have our generator. We watched the sandhill cranes dancing to each other and we ate a modest meal from the garden. It felt right.
Our children will come in force in a couple of months. I figure there will be sixteen adults and children. We'll sleep on all available surfaces. I will be thrilled, like Marie, to see them. It will be wonfderful to have everyone under our roof, great having our far-flung children together. And we will love having them depart in a haze of love and connections.
Happy Boxing Day!
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