Holidays
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Why I Get Nostalgic in the Fall – Part Two
I never really missed not having other extended family around during the holidays. And after experiencing the chaos, personality tensions, overcrowding, and the mess that was left behind when we did, I really didn’t understand the fascination of it all.
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Why I Get Nostalgic in the Fall – Part One
Growing up, there was an unwritten rule that every holiday had its own season, filled with its own family, church and community traditions. In the Fall, that meant starting by picking out pumpkins and turning them into jack-o-lanterns in October, highlighted by attending at least one Halloween party. Growing up on military bases, there was aways an event happening this time of year at the Community Center that we would attend. Back then, no one really thought about sanitary things like we do today. So doing things like bobbing for apples was actually a thing, along with other fun games that were big draws. They typically had age-appropriate activities in…
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Grieving Through the Holidays
It’s here. That time of the year when your emotions might be shooting off in multiple directions at the same time. You’re up and you’re down; smiling for the photographs one moment, while crying behind closed doors another moment. Every year you tell yourself you’ll do better. That it’ll get better. That’s what everyone told you when you said goodbye to your loved one. But the years have gone by and the moments still come, some expectedly; that birthday, anniversary, different holiday seasons. Other times it comes out of nowhere. Was it a scent? The smell of a candle that used to burn in their house. A sound? That silly…
