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Thursday, December 24, 2009

Ghosts of Christmas Past

The ghosts of Christmas past have visited again. I've just returned from Mason's walk along Fremont Street -- right alongside the Rose City Cemetery in Northeast Portland. It's not unusual for me to stare through the fence at the grave stones...thinking and wondering....I'm just that kind of guy. And tonight is deliciously cold. Perfectly clear with a strong possibility of fog. I checked out the stars above and I always take a moment to enjoy the amazing color of the sky after the sun has set.

And we're alone, Mason and I, until hubby arrives in a few hours from his working trip. And it's not unusual for me to be reflective during alone times. I've been considering the many Christmas Eves, year after year, that we spent at my grandmother's home in south Boise along with every other possible family member living nearby. There would be about 30 of us complete with a table of sliced ham for sandwiches, potato salad, a giant green salad with Fritos on it, and baked beans. Great Aunt Ruth would have made what seemed like a million Santa Claus cookies for each person. And my father would drive us slowly through downtown Boise on the trip back home -- so that we could look at the department store windows with their displays and decorations. Christmas morning would find us in our pajamas, cavorting and frolicking around the living room and tree. My mother always having prepared a special holiday breakfast for us. I swear, my parents took the best care of us. I miss my dad on days like this. And I am highly aware of the nearing of the end of my mother's life. It makes me sad. I miss those days.

But tonight, happily, my lover will be home -- in the city and home that we love. We may go to our favorite late-night Christmas Eve service at a beautiful old church in downtown Portland complete with top-notch organ music and followed by everyone going outside onto the nearly-deserted streets to sing Christmas carols at midnight. Mason will be with us, of course. And tomorrow brings ten of our favorite friends and family over to share the holiday with us. We'll dine on spiral sliced ham, roasted pork tenderloin, brussel sprouts roasted with walnuts, garlic green beans, scalloped potatoes, and some delicious dessert. And it will be all better. The ghosts will be gone. Until some other memory prompts their soon return to my head.

Merry Christmas -- to friends and loved ones -- those we see frequently and those who we may never have the opportunity to meet. For those who put up with me, for those who love me and have stood next to me, I thank you. I wish you the best Christmas ever.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

have fun at the Christmas service....look forward to seeing you both tomorrow. Love you both
Edmund

Stephen said...

Wishing you all the very best...
sending you warm hugs & kind regards. It has been nice to get to know a bit about you, your guy & your canine.
Merry Christmas!

Ultra Dave said...

Wonderful post Arnie. I hope you have a fabulous Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Arnie, Great post. I wish you and yours a most wonderful holiday season and the best for the coming year! Cheers!
Michael

Wendy said...

You know what Arnie? You remind me so much of my wife! All "bah humbug" right up until the *wire*... and then both of you wonderful people pull off this kind of memorable and appreciated expressions of Christmas spirit and love.
Much love and HUGS to you and Blair!

Wendy

wcs said...

Warm wishes to you, Blair, and Mason!

emcitychris said...

Merry Christmas boys! Unwrap each other and have a great day. XOXO

Birdie said...

Merry Christmas, sweetheart, to you and Blair and Mason.

annie said...

i miss him all the time, too, but on special times like this it's worse. our father made sure our lives were "complete". no matter what. i am so so so blessed to be able to live with mom during these finalish years so i can enjoy every bit of her and her love and humor. and thanks to you, brothr, for leading the trip down the hallway in the dark to locate the gifts to be unwrapped (early), then wrapped again. you know that mom and dad never once complained or let on that they knew?

LSL said...

I share in the reflection and bittersweet thoughts that the holidays seem to bring.

I hope you and hubby have had a wonderful day. I'm grateful to know you both, and I'm sending lots of good thoughts for us all in 2010. xo!

Anonymous said...

I hope you, Blair and Mason had a great Christmas - best wishes to you all from him and from me!

Lemuel said...

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas!
Your memories of Christmas triggered very similar memories of my own.

Rick Bettencourt said...

Just a bit of advice from someone counting the days till spring: Delicious should never be used to modify cold weather.

Hope you had a great Christmas and best to the new year!

dpaste said...

Hope you had a beautiful holiday.

Michael Guy said...

Hope your Christmas was divoon, dear one...

madhouse 6 said...

this actually brought a tear to my eye.

Christopher said...

Hope the Holidays are good for you!!

Ur-spo said...

that was lovely
I hope you two have a splendid 2010.