Being the baby of my family was a wonderful thing. Especially at Christmas time. Especially when I was in my prime gift receiving years of six to twelve. Especially when I was the only one at home and my four siblings had children of their own. I got presents from my parents (I mean Santa), of course. But then we would go to each of my sibling’s houses and I would get even more. Let’s just say that Christmas, for little Denny, was bountiful.
What is this Christmas change in the title, you may be wondering. There is a time in each of our lives when we are no longer kids, no longer the center of attention. That time came for me on Christmas Day, 1967. That is the Christmas Day that my mom died. That was the day I was forced to grow up. That was the day I began worrying about my dad more than I worried about myself. Yeah. A parent’s death at any time will do that. A parent’s death on Christmas Day will shout it loud and clear.
The following Christmas it was just me and my dad. I can remember what was under the tree for me in 1968. I received a jaunty red hunting cap and The Beatles’ White Album. Not the bounty of Christmases past. But my dad did his best. By the following Christmas my dad and I were living with my big brother Jim. Back to family Christmases. Another change.
Since that 1967 Christmas, my life has been very different. Christmases eventually became more focused on my kids, like they should be. Now my kids are all grown. More Christmas change. Do I think of my mom every Christmas Day? Of course, even though we didn’t have the best relationship. I think of my dad more though. His life changed that day, even more than mine. I gave up hunting in 1970, so I didn’t get much use of the jaunty red hunting cap. But I listen to the White Album even today.
My dad died on the day after Christmas, when I was thirty-three. Merry Christmas. Bittersweet. I do love change, but maybe not so much at Christmas time. Like Billy Squier said, in my favorite Christmas song “Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You”. A sincere Merry Christmas to all of my readers!
A Semi-retired Kind of Life 