The Holidays.....

T

tug_boat

10-Year Member
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Jun 18, 2012
Messages
2,101
My children each year ask me the same question.
What do I want for Christmas?

I WANT YOU! I want you to keep coming around, I want you to ask me questions, ask my advice, tell me your problems, ask for my opinion, ask for my help. I want you to come over and rant about your problems, rant about life, whatever. Tell me about your worries. I want you to continue sharing your life with me. Come over and laugh with me, or laugh at me, I don't care. Hearing you laugh is music to me.
I spent the better part of my life raising you the best way i knew how, and I'm not bragging, but i did a pretty darn good job. Now, give me time to sit back and admire my work, I'm pretty proud of it.
Raid my refrigerator, help yourself, I really don't mind. In fact, I wouldn't want it any other way.
I want you to spend your money making a better life for you. I have the things I need. I want to see you happy and healthy. When you ask me what I want for Christmas, I say "nothing" because you've already been giving me my gift all year. I WANT YOU!.

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
As I got older, I gave my parents tickets to shows, concerts or cultural/sport events we could attend together when I was home on leave. It was fun researching that from afar and surprising them. They weren't interested in more things, though they enjoyed items I bought in exotic places around the world. My dad's favorite thing was an old-school Spanish green glass fly-catcher. You put a little sugar water in it, flies could fly in but couldn't find their way out. He wore out an alpaca sweater from my TAD at the Peruvian Naval Academy near Lima. My mom treasured a length of embroidered silk from Bangkok, which she used as a table-runner, and cloisonné Christmas tree ornaments from Hong Kong. Most of all, I have to admit, they enjoyed when I came home and treated them to the concert or show, though my dad never let anyone else pay for dinner.
 
We are having a childless Christmas this year for the first time in over 32 years. One son deployed, another no leave and too far away, civilian kids far away or going to the inlaws (I say they are the OUTLAWS!). What I wouldn't give to have those "Mom I MUST EAT 8000 calories a day!" days back! So proud of all my chicks, and missing them so much!

I will be spending a week with the cutest granddaughter in the whole wide world in January. Yep, that should just about turn on that crazy-grandma gene.

Tug, I hear ya.
 
I'm with you fencersmother. First year without the kiddo in 23 years. He's in Okinawa this year. Who is going to make my bourbon and eggnog for me? :) Or even more importantly, who will he be with to open up his presents? :( We'll all be fine though.
 
"My mom treasured a length of embroidered silk from Bangkok, which she used as a table-runner, and cloisonné Christmas tree ornaments from Hong Kong. Most of all, I have to admit, they enjoyed when I came home and treated them to the concert or show, though my dad never let anyone else pay for dinner."

I also brought my mother home silk from a Thailand port visit on my first WESTPAC/IO cruise and Christmas away from home. She took it to a tailor and had it tailored into a beautiful blue dress. She died from cancer way to young at age 58 and my family buried her in that beautiful blue dress she loved.
 
NTWLF - that is about the most bittersweet thing I have ever read.

May you remember Mother with a smile on Christmas.
 
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