When Big J and I first got married, the holidays were a crazy fun time. On Thanksgiving and again on Christmas day, both sides of our families - our parents, our siblings and whoever they wanted to bring along, special friends, and oftentimes aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents - would gather together to celebrate and have dinner together. There were always people milling around everywhere and when you put Italians and Greeks at the same table for dinner, well, you can imagine - not only was it a happy time, it was also always fairly loud and periodically heated.
The first couple of years after my mom died, celebrating the holidays was, well, different. Not only were we mourning the loss of my mother, but within short succession, we also lost Big J's grandma Penny, our beloved Aunt Judy (who was only 57) and then Papa. And as the family shrunk, so it seems, did our holidays, because by Christmas 2006, we could all sit around my dining room table - no leafs required.
And then my dad met Liz. And with Liz, came Denise and her family and Mike and his family and before we had a chance to blink an eye - the holidays were, well - the holidays were boisterous again. There were kids running around and laughter and wine flowing and the kind of teasing that happens between siblings and the two extra leafs in the dining room table still wouldn't seat us all.
Last year my dad and Liz made it official and got married and believe me when I say I could not be happier. I tease Liz and call her my wicked step mother, but the truth is - there is not a wicked bone in her body. She brings happiness to our family and especially to my dad and I have no doubt whatsoever that my mother would be pleased at how Liz loves my dad, but even more so, how she loves his girls.
Today I am beyond grateful for Liz, and for all the bonus family she's brought to me with her. Our family has grown again, our holidays are happy, and that is something I am incredibly thankful for.
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1 comments:
And I am so thankful for you that you have your bonus family! There's always been this, like swirling-over-your-head Love Thing about you, Momo, that I am guessing got handed down to you from your parents, and you wave that baton's pixie-dust all around you and the love just sprouts and grows. I bet your parents taught you how. Spreading, sharing, and smiling and laughing in Love is so much better than the more popular alternative.
Hurray for Love and here's a big MN hug for Liz, your dad, you and all the new family! mwah!!!
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