Chateau Lloyd

This post is a bit late simply because there is so much going on at Chateau Lloyd.  A pair of toddlers is more than enough to keep one's hands full, especially when they are wired on sweets and toys.

Taking it all in, the family has agreed that this has been the best Christmas since 2019 - that is, before the Plague Year.   Indeed, this is the first time that everyone was present for the holiday.

Alas, my parents are not included in that number.  Though both are still alive and alert, travel is a challenge, and kids having sniffles is enough to deter them.  As I noted a year ago, Christmas is never the same because we are never the same.  Christmas at 22 may not be that different from 23, but it certainly is at 32 or 42. 

With children, the differences are more stark, especially the transition from infancy to school age.

I know many people find this time of year difficult, and there are certainly moments sadness, particularly when I recall people who can longer join us.  I miss the big get-togethers with my aunts, uncles and cousins at the homes of my grandparents.  Because I'm an only child and my wife's kin are far away, we'll have to wait for marriages and more grandchildren to fill things out.

That anticipation is somewhat offset by the realization of my own mortality - and that of my parents.  How many years do they have left?  A friend of mine's father is over 100, a remarkable lifetime, and one that is no doubt likely to end soon.

This also causes me to treasure these moments.  I do this not just for myself, but for the children and grandchildren so that they also see Christmas as a happy time, devoid of the drama and regret that so many people feel at this time of year.

I'm not going to close with belated Christmas greetings because Christmas is still in progress.  We won't wrap the season up until January, so Merry Christmas to you all!