The Empty Chair

Well, Christmas 2014 has come and gone.

Some of my siblings got out of Dodge, because they knew how hard it would be.

The first Christmas after a loved one has gone is always the hardest.

I still remember so well Christmas 1992.  My Dad had died just a few weeks before.  We had Christmas at their place...Christmas Eve, as our family had done for so many years previous.

The empty chair....Dad's chair...was very painful to see.

I think we were all wrecks that night...but we struggled on.

Christmas 2014...Mom's empty chair was gone...her apartment closed up...a thousand knick-knacks given away.

But I think of that chair. ( I took a photo to remember it)

We gathered together this past Christmas Eve again.  At the back of all of our minds...our loved ones who are no longer here.

Mom & Dad....we love you....and we miss you.  Christmas is just not the same without you!

Thankfully....we had small children to keep us occupied....our minds focused.

And I am grateful.  Mom & Dad would have loved it too.