this christmas season is different. i took the train home yesterday morning and virtually everyone on the train was on their way home for the holidays. they were on their way to celebrate christmas with their families and i was on my way home to go to a funeral.

we did celebrate christmas, in fact, we are still in the middle of it. but there is this ever looming thought of what will await us on tuesday. in a way i feel like we mostly celebrated for my niece (she’s six).

the upside of the timing of the funeral, and i realize how terrible this sounds, most of my relatives on my dad’s side are home and i will get to see my cousin who i have not seen in years, meet his wife who i only know from pictures and their two kids (i learned their names just today). i may have been told about the kids when they were born but because i’m not so close to that cousin i did not follow up or tried to keep in touch. we never had much in common and even as kids met maybe once every two or three years. but i’m looking forward to seeing them all. new babies (or toddlers by now) to meet.

enjoy the time with family and friends and give them all a big hug. you never know how much time you will have with them.

franzi