The True Meaning

I am sure that ALL of you have had a heck of a week, or even month. I work in flight operations at a major airline, and we have been slamming. We always are this time of year, but due to events that happened just over a month ago, I am taking a look at things in a new light.

On 16 NOV 07, my Dad died at home, he had just turned 73. It made Thanksgiving difficult, but as we were driving home from Ohio we didn't seem to mind that we didn't get a turkey dinner. What we were missing was family. My wife and I had each other, and that is what got me thru it and I am greatful for her, and all she did to help. Before I left to come back to Tennessee I made my mother promise she would fly down for Christmas with Michele and I. She agreed after some coaxing. I also made sure she stayed for a whole week, not the usually 3 or 4 days.

She got here on Thursday and is doing better than I expected. She still refers to my dad in first person like he is still here, which is odd to me, but as they were married for 51 years, I certainly understand. As my wife and I are still very busy given our respective careers, she has been a godsend with all the little things she has helped us with.

What made me type this out is that my wife and I trade stories of people and their "holiday" spirit. She catches crap as she manages a specialty crystal store. People wait until the last minute and ALL they care about is what they want, and they want it yesterday. As she and her staff were helping customers the other day, someone actually yelled across her store that they needed help "Right Now!" It made all the other customers uneasy, but she smoothed things over and went on about her day. She wanted to yell at the lady to get out of the store, but she did the right thing and was nice, to be honest I don't know how she does what she does. And I have some dandy stories to tell about the public and their "cheer" while waiting until the last minute in making their holiday shipping plans. Well, as we swapped stories, my mom commented that she could not believe that people act this way. It really got to me. My wife and I are always so busy and are usually just glad to get Christmas over with that we laugh all the rotten behavior off and look forward to exchanging gifts and getting back to a normal routine. When I think of how this will be my first Christmas where I can't say Merry Christmas to my dad and watch the look on his face as he opens his Old Spice nautical decanter that I got him every year. Or his laugh, when Eddie tells Clark that the Jelly of The Month Club is the gift that keeps giving the whole year long. So I am doing my part and starting with the man in the mirror.

To all of you who I play with online, and those in my clan, and those who I will play with someday soon.... turn off your Xbox a few minutes early and go talk or call someone and pass this wish on.

Have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

From,

Jeff and Michele... and Louie (our Bulldog)