Category: Letterboard

This past year has been difficult for me. I wasn’t in the holiday spirit last year. This year is a little better, but it will be our first without my Dad. When my parents’ owned a day care (I was in college), my dad dressed up as Santa for all the kids. And then when my kids and nephews were little, he did the same. My dad was always a focal point of entertainment, and his presence is sorely missed when my family gets together.

I just returned from a trip to Salt Lake City for work, and Portland to see my mom and one of my brothers and sisters-in-law. We had a nice family dinner while I was there. It reminded me of all of holidays of the past, but as the years go on the numbers attending just dwindles. We are all spread across the country in four different states – just in my immediate family. If you start counting cousins and in-laws that’s another six states. So family gatherings just aren’t the same.