Ah, the holidays bring out the best and worst of us, in my experience. We gather together with family we never see and bring gifts that we think they might enjoy, but how do we  know since we never see them to know what they’d really  like? The old folks have new ailments to go on about and the little ones run in circles, high on a sugar-cookies-and-present-opening-anticipation adrenaline. The ones of us in the middle, who want to consider ourselves the less crazy of the bunch, just try to keep it all together. We look forward to the option of falling apart later.

But this is the stuff of life. The human flaws are what makes it all true and real. And although we may not see each other very often, we are family and we know each other better than ourselves sometimes.

My 76-year-old grandfather shuffled to his car from our holiday get together fussing about swollen feet and shoes that hurt to walk. My Dad couldn’t get him out the door fast enough. Later on when we were packing up everyone else to leave, my hubby can’t find his shoes. But a pair of loafers for the senior citizen set were there for the pickings. No wonder he was complaining of swollen feet. His size 10 1/2’s were crammed in hubby’s size 9’s.

I honestly don’t think my Mom has ever laughed so hard in her entire life. Leg-crossing, run to the bathroom, side hurting laughter. Possibly made it the best Christmas ever.

This morning the boys slept in and came down not begging for breakfast, to my relief, but rather pleading to see what Santa left in their stockings. Oh, they must not have gotten the memo that he only comes that one time a year. Sorry to disappoint! And maybe this is my cue to take down the Christmas decorations early. I just might. I think this past Christmas has been fabulous and one of the best. But I am so ready to move onward and upward.