Posted by Dinah on December 24, 2004, at 20:47:58
There are so many memories of Daddy at this time of year.
The hideous traffic yesterday reminded me of our traditional Christmas eve lunch - just Daddy and me. And how he always insisted we go really early to avoid the crowd, but we'd get caught in it on the way home.
He was a man who often battled depression, but Christmastime was the one invariably good periods of time so that this time of year always had an extra layer of special. He'd get cheerful a week or so before Christmas and it would last into early or mid-January. Occasionally later.
He hated crowds so of course he hated Christmas shopping. He left that all up to Mother. But when I was older, he'd usually go on Christmas eve to a small store away from the mall and pick me out a gift from him to me. Sometimes one for my brother too. When I started a collection of something that could only be found locally at the mall, he even braved the mall on Christmas eve. I think he had my mother drive him, though. It always made me feel extra special loved because Daddy wouldn't shop for someone he didn't love. :)
I'm not forgetting the bad stuff. Somehow it would seem wrong to forget the bad stuff. The royal battles between my parents that so distressed me at the time. Some unkindness on his part, especially in recent years. Some neglect, I suppose, on my part since I had a child.
I guess over the years, those associations will lessen. This year my husband and son must be getting sick and tired of the stories of Daddy that can be elicited by the sight of a can of asparagus.
poster:Dinah
thread:433907
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/grief/20040811/msgs/433907.html