Happy Thanksmas and Merry Christgiving

Since I'm so far behind on my posts I was thinking about just not posting about the holidays, but I decided I'd do a quick Happy Thanksgiving - Merry Christmas post all rolled into one.

The holidays were hard without Dad. I guess that much is pretty obvious. What may not be as obvious is that I believe the holidays would've been hard with Dad. Dad's Mesothelioma was progressing and even though Dad never wanted to talk about "his prognosis" the reality is this would have been Dad's last Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm thinking he would have been pretty sick for both.

I know we all would have tried our best - especially Dad - to make the most of the holidays. But, if I'm honest, I'm glad that Dad's actual last Thanksgiving and last Christmas were truly happy ones spent without a hint of illness.

I don't want to speak for my siblings, but I think it's safe to say we all enjoyed the holidays and spending time together. While we all missed Dad terribly, there was definitely more laughter than tears. I believe that's exactly what Dad would have wanted.

In addition to all of our wonderful annual holiday traditions (Thanksgiving at Mary Beth and Ed's, Christmas parties for Mom's side and Dad's side of the family, Christmas Eve at Mary Beth and Ed's, Christmas morning at our house with Suzy and Sheila, and Christmas night at Patti and Dave's), Tony and I did our best to continue our own little family's holiday traditions (the lights in Hampden, cutting down the Christmas tree, making a gingerbread house, etc.).

I would be lying if I didn't say on more than one ocassion I had to fake my holiday enthusiam. But you know what? It wouldn't take long before the real holiday spirit would kick in!