When Abraham Lincoln laughed at something during the Civil War, he is rumored to have been criticized for it, and in response he said, “If I didn’t laugh, I would surely cry.” Those of you who are caregivers, either professionally or for a loved one, know that can be true of us, too. If we only see the serious side of things, what is happening can sometimes seem unbearable.
Speaking for myself, (and possibly some others) this is a tough time of year to be happy. Long dark nights, short cold days, post-holiday blues, impending taxes, another birthday—I could go on.
I wasn’t with him when my husband, Dennis, passed away at 12:10 a.m. on May 2, 2021. I got the news on my cell phone. I heard about my father’s passing in the same way, so I knew what I had to do. I dressed quickly and drove to the memory care facility where he had been for only eight days.
Our whole lives, we’ve been fed a story. Go to school, get a good job, raise a family — and then when you’re 65, you can retire and do what you want. Take a moment to think about how crazy that sounds. And yet, that’s the script most people live by.
Christmas is a time for family, tradition, and making memories. This month, I’d like to share a personal story from my past. I hope it will give you a smile and bring to mind some of your priceless memories of Christmas gone by.