I am glad the holidays are over, but I still enjoy them every year. I have a love/hate relationship with them. The part I love is watching my three grandchildren’s excitement about Christmas – complete with it’s twinkling lights, Santa and beautifully wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree. I also had the pleasure of being with two of my grandkids in Dallas at the end of November as they sat on Santa’s lap sharing their Christmas gift list!

I love the lights that adorn the homes and had the pleasure of viewing a spectacular display of them in Naples Canal with a friend. My husband doesn’t share my enthusiasm for Christmas lights, so I went with a girlfriend. Afterward, I suggested that we eat at George’s Greek Café in Belmont Shores. It was her first introduction to Greek food complete with flaming saganaki which we toasted “opa.”

This year my husband and I decided to have an open house/potluck at our home again on Christmas day. Before our guests arrived, we shared laughter and a gift-exchange with my two delightful stepsons. I felt the emptiness in the room because my brother-in-law, Joe, was no longer here. He transitioned last August at the age of 60.

Our open house was a great success. We had 7 friends stop by at different times to visit, share hot apple cider and food. My husband and I were grateful to have a warm home to welcome those who had nowhere else to go on Christmas Day. My friends are like family to me because all my family lives out of state.

I have traveled to Chicago for Christmas to be with my family and I was so grateful that I spent Christmas 2016 with my dad and other family members, not knowing that it would be my Dad’s last Christmas. He died last year on January 31. It doesn’t seem like it’s been a year and I miss him so much. I feel his presence around me when I think of him and I am reminded that death is an illusion – the best gift of all! 💖