I look forward to columns, sometimes.
They can be fun and allow you to let your hair down a little. The bad part is trying to come up with a topic.
After days of trying to decide what to write for this Christmas column, I thought I’d let my fingers do the thinking and just type.
I wanted to be silly and funny but that's not where my mind was going as I typed.
This Christmas will be happy in our home, at times.
Other times, it's going to be rough.
My mother-in-law passed away just a couple weeks ago. There is never a good time for death, but this close to Christmas makes it all the more sadder.
My wife (Amanda) who has handled this with the strength that made me love her, was very close to her mom Wendy.
They both love Christmas, family and doing things for others. Amanda makes the best turkey dinner you’ve ever had and enjoys doing it.
The first time I met Wendy, she was making a big dinner for a house full of people.
I know most people complain about their in-laws and like to make it an ongoing joke. I can’t and couldn’t.
My father-in-law Ed (Scottish by birth, Celtic FC by choice) and I can talk about and watch soccer all day as well as chat about our beloved Maple Leafs and pretty much any other sport.
Wendy, well I just loved Wendy.
I truly looked forward to being with her on big occasions. She made the kids laugh, got down on the floor and played with the little one, and was always in a great mood. I saw where my wife got those traits as Amanda is exactly the same.
Amanda would always tell me stories of her childhood and it would lead to her saying how her mom was so fun and never let them have a bad day.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and when Amanda worries that our three-year-old won’t remember Grammy, I remind her she couldn’t possibly forget because of that apple.
Christmas morning will see all the traditional things.
Early morning rising, having the kids (and me) looking in awe at the tree and the presents that seem to flood the floor in front of it, the sound of wrapping paper ripping and the slurping of coffee.
We have kids that love Christmas and there will be smiles and some laughs for sure.
There will also be moments, I’m even more sure, that will need pause. But every sad moment can easily be countered with a good thought.
We can’t call Grammy and say hi or tell her what we got from Santa, but we have faith she’ll see it.
There won’t be a present with her name on it, but my wife, her dad and two brothers (and their families) have a lifetime of memories to open whenever they need to.
The grandkids will likely not want to talk about it and put on a brave face, but they’ll accept a hug when they get caught looking sad (even if it is away from everyone).
I only knew her for a few years but wish I had known her longer.
There’s no point complaining about feeling robbed or saying how unfair it is that we lost this amazing woman so early, but I will any way from time to time.
Our “firsts” start on Christmas Day. Our first Christmas without her.
But only physically. Wendy will be there with every laugh and fun story we share, so we’ll make sure we have lots.
