By: Mary Fox
This time of year fills me with both sadness and love, wonder, and hope all at the same time.
This time of year, 20 years ago, my mom got sick. She ended up having heart surgery in December which led her down a road of many setbacks that resulted in her death on January 26th, 2000. This time of year also happens to be around her birthday on December 30th. She was not just my mom but one of my best friends. So, I have a lot of sadness during this time of year.
But also, this time of year, I have wonderful memories of family. Thanksgivings where I always had to help my mom stir the gravy, my brother and I would eat endless amounts of rolls, and there would always be an argument between someone. Memories of putting up the Christmas tree with my mom, looking at all the ornaments she’d grown up with or collected during the years, and opening all the thoughtful gifts in my stocking from “Santa” (mom). And staying up with her every year until midnight on New Year’s Eve watching Dick Clark and the ball dropping in New York.
While the sadness may always creep in, I am still filled with the love she gave, the wonder and fun she taught me during the holidays and hope for good things to come in the new year. Because of my mom, I think it’s a magical time, this time of year.
I have a mom and a dad and two brothers.”
Submitted by Doug Creek
