Note: As part of my Day Program, I contribure to the program’s newsletter. In June 2021, that Newsletter transitoned to a monthly basis as much of the elements of the program are back to a in-person status.
Christmas Past and Present
Throughout the nearly the first three decades of my life, I had celebrated Christmas mostly in the same way. Opening gifts on Christmas morning at my home until a few years ago at my parents house. I spent 32 Christmas mornings with my parents and while I did sometimes give them and my sister a run for their money, as I came of age,
I mellowed out and Christmas became routine. Most of my life had my maternal grandparents in the celebrations and sometimes my dad’s side of the family on Christmas Eve in early years. 2016 was a bleak year as my Grandmother died suddenly at the start of Holy Week, and by Christmas that year, my Grandfather’s health declined severely with him entering Eternal rest a few days after Christmas.
After that, Christmas remained in our family unit and just in two years, I would be waking up on Christmas morning alone in my own apartment.
When I moved to my current home two years ago, it was the first Christmas that I was not connected to any human being because of the resurgence of the COVID-19 Pandemic at the time. Presents were dropped at my front door and we opened gifts on Facebook Live that year. It was a sad and unique experience that many were deprived of in the world that year. I also made the decision to no longer visit with my dad’s family because of initially the Pandemic, additional generations being added and too much sensory overload
We started the traditions last year with my sister and mother sharing the cooking load. However, Christmas Eve and Day to some degree will be spent watching Worship Services on YouTube in spirit.
It is time to move on with my life as an independent adultwith new traditions and directions.
Dustin's Dynasty 