Well, Christmas has come and gone and what’s left?
Three bags of wrapping papers piled up to be placed in the rubbish and plastic toys made in China for the twins are scattered all over the floor.Sigh.
All of the work, all of the planning went off without a hitch.
Christmas dinner was at my brother Joe’s home and we were blessed to have my daughter Danielle fly up from her home in Mesa, Arizona to be here for four days. The kids all loved spending time with her and likewise her with them.
And now?
Silence.
Well, near silence as I have Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass playing on my pad in the kitchen.
The twins are in the cribs trying to sleep.
The music is soothing to them and helping them to relax.
A load of white clothes are in the laundry being washed.
Like millions of people around the world, our family (sans children) has already made the now obligatory trek to our local Cineplex to see the latest Star Wars film.
And now comes the holiday crash.
I, for one, have never been that interested in the second part of the Holiday season – that of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
And – horrors – we are raising our children and living without television so the parades and football that follows on New Year’s will pass by us.
In silence.
So now I have a moment to reflect back on the past year – Cris’ seemingly endless pregnancy with Jeff Junior and the move from China to Montana. Clearly “health wise” it was the best decision we ever made as America truly does have a great health care system compared to what we have experienced in the past years in our countries of residence.
What have I learned over these months since arriving in Montana?
That more than ever I love my wife more than I can express in mere words … that I would, most gladly, cook for her, clean for her and adore every moment I have to look at her smile.
If I had one wish it would be to freeze time and look at her beautiful face.
Cris has brought me more joy than I have ever known.
I am the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.
So… Goodbye Year 2015.
Hello Year 2016!
