Two sides of Christmas

My mother and father divorced each other when I was 8-years-old. Well, it was official two days before my 8th birthday, but just because I remember the date doesn't mean it was traumatic for me. Dad brought me a new bike the day he brought the papers to mom.

From 8 on, I always felt lucky to have two birthdays and two Christmases. Like I was getting away with something kids with one home didn't know about.

At 34, I'm pleased to say I have stayed close to both my parents. But, I suspect, whether one has parents still together or not, the things that mom's and dad's offer up as special holiday gifts are quite different.

Case in point: the following e-mail and video came from my mom and dad. Each in their own way, were trying to make my holidays more special. Both worked. Mom, wrote an emotional story about her Aunt Vonny that she sent to me and other relatives. The story truly stands on its own, apart from the Mom and Dad frame I've set for it here.

Mom's story

Just a quick note to tell all of you a little story about Aunt Vonny. Many times in my life, I have been so fortunate to have a friend or a relative do something so nice for me that the memory of what they did carried on for me and I still remember all of those special people. Aunt Vonny was one of them. I remember one time when I first moved to Springfield, Brian was 9 and Justin was 4. I was really broke and a little down about just life in general. I had talked to Vonny on the phone on occasion and she would sometimes send me a little note or a silly card. One time, just out of the blue, she called and said she had been praying and believed the Lord wanted her to do something for me. So for a few months, she sent me her tithing..her 10% that she normally gave to her church, she sent to me. I remember crying when I got her check and told her she didn't need to do that, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. When the time came, she called and said she felt it needed to go back to the church. I have never forgotten that act of kindness. I hadn't asked her for anything, but she felt she wanted to do something for me. When she died, I really wanted to go to her funeral, but the car I had at the time was really not in good shape and I was afraid to take it on the drive to Cape. I had told most of the family that I didn't think I could make it..I had visited Vonny in the hospital 2 weeks before and I rode out to Cape, I can't even remember who with? Maybe Ted? or Kenny? I don't know. So I told myself that since I just saw her, I didn't need to go to the funeral. The day before her funeral, a girl I worked with at the cable company came up to me and said she heard I wanted to go to my aunt's funeral but was concerned about my car. Her name is Darenda. I have lost touch with her. But on that day, she opened my hand and put her car keys in my hand and told me to take her car to the funeral and she would find a way to work while I was gone. She wouldn't take no for an answer. I remember at Vonny's funeral not wanting to go up to see Vonny in the casket and Aunt Bert grabbed my hand and said, "It will be ok." So I did and I think Vonny was once again helping me...someone else helped me so I could go to her funeral but I somehow think Vonny had her hand in it.....
So Merry Christmas to all of you and try to remember something special about someone this Christmas and then do something nice for someone else..even if they don't expect it!

Dad's video