Home for the Holidays

After a very stressful and emotional month of December I decided that being home for the holidays was perhaps the best thing I could think of for my fragile state. For some reason or another I was against the idea until a few sweet people urged me and convinced me that it was exactly what I wanted to do.
I decided that since there was a little over a week before I would arrive at home and nobody knew I would then surprise my family. I told my brothers and my Auntie Jenny who had emailed me the details of my arrival and that it would be a surprise.
Finishing up work on the 20th, going to the dentist to get my tooth pulled that evening and then spending a really nice early Christmas with Michiel on the 21st, I flew out on the early morning of the 22nd back to Vancouver.
A uneventful flight (with little or no sleep) I arrived in Vancouver and decided rather than risk my brother not being home I would contact my dear friend Jennifer and see if she was up for having me over; She was. I took the bus to her place. I had a shower and changed and then headed with her up and down her part of Main Street to look for last min gift items. Came back had a few drinks and then crashed asleep by 21:30 after being awake the better part of 24 hours.
In the morning I decided to head over to the Island and get up to my parents. I caught the ferry caught a bus and got into Victoria. I had called my little brother and left a message with his roomie Matt that I would be arriving around 2:30 and he could meet me if he wanted. I arrived and no Eric, so I decided to head up to the city to deal with some things I needed to get. I walked up Douglas across and zigzagged towards Lens and Shutter where I wanted to get some prints made and promptly running into Eric on the street on his way to meet me, late as usual.
We hung out a little, he had a errand to run and I had another errand to Roots to make so we split up and met up again later for coffee. After that he headed home and I had a few hours to waste before the bus. I called my friend Aaron and had a nice catch up and then decided to grab something to eat and ran into Matt who was working at the Noodle Box, it is such a small place! The sweetheart bought me dinner and I headed back to the bus station. I arrived in Mill Bay, called a taxi and had him drop me off at the driveway. I knocked on the door and after some time my mom answered with a look of disbelief on her face and her jaw hanging open, then my dad came from the den and he immediately said I wondered if there was something going on, Stella’s parents had emailed Christmas wishes and had hoped that they would enjoy it even more that I was coming home. Oh well my parents thought it was a miscommunication and they were surprised and I got to be home with my lovely family and friends for the first time in 4 years.
Christmas Eve at my parent’s house was always an open house with family friends dropping by for mulled wine and food. This year was different for the first time in about 30 years because the Pope’s were not there, but the Tillie’s were, Eric’s friend Keith was with us for the holidays and Blair dropped by with his parents. I had picked up older brother Chris earlier and Sarah brought over a very WIRED Alice and we all had some nice visits.
Christmas Morning was again slightly different, in the past I would often be up and jetlagged so I would take the dog out in the forest and enjoy the early morning. But our family home was very quiet this year for many reasons; Grandma had passed on earlier this year the dog in summer and Sylvia in November. So I got up and made coffee and read a book until more people got up. I remember as kids, barely sleeping and “sneaking” into the living room to check out the stockings; and sometimes even going back to bed to wait until the real morning. This year was funny because we were all getting up having coffee and such and then my Dad had to put his foot down and demand that we either go and get our stockings or the tradition would stop….
Breakfast and more lounging some Footie on the telly and then presents. I was really spoilt this year, it was just so nice to be there for the event. Afterwards I headed up to some family friends for a visit and catch-up and then came home to the preparations for the Family dinner where 17 were expected that is really amazing in fact we were only missing 7-8 Although I am not sure how that might have fit in my Mom’s Kitchen/ Dining room.
I like to think that I have a very special family, we all get along, we all like each other, there is no strange in fighting or anything just pure enjoyment when we are together.
It was My family and Keith (6) The Morgans (5) The Waelti and Campbell’s and Bruce (4) and my Uncle Frank and Auntie Jenny. After way to much food a some good laughs we swapped more presents and eventually most of them headed to their homes, After Eric treated us to some fireworks.
Chris, Eric and Keith had to leave early in the morning; I took my time getting ready and headed down to Victoria for some Boxing day madness. It was not as bad as the Hague on a regular Saturday so I did not really mind. I actually ran into Keith and Eric again downtown while I stood in line for the Lululemon shop and made a plan to hook up later.
Where I actually then ran into Ryen and really old and \dear friend from high school on the street again a small small city. I got Kelly her Holey Soles and Helen her Lululemon things and headed home again for the last dinner I would have with my parents until at least June.
I am now on the Ferry on my way back to Vancouver to hang out with my Brother Chris as he has the night off and spend a few days with him and Freya before heading back the NL on Friday.
I can only say that it was wonderful to be home to see my family and a few friends and know that it is possible to go home for the Holidays.