Last night I sat holding the hand of a dying woman as she drifted in and out of drug induced sleep. Her son will stay with her until the end, she is at home with friends and family around her. This is the way I would wish to go when the time comes. She has been a friend of my family for many years and always popped around on Christmas Day. Along with my parents, aunts and uncles, she is yet another person whose smiling face will be missing from this years Christmas celebrations. All now memories captured in old photographs.
I'm not a Christmassy person, for me the day is about spending time with family, I realise that I am very lucky to be able to do this, for many it can be a lonely time. I won't be going over the top, there will be presents to open and food to eat and weather permitting our usual walk on the beach. The most important thing is to spend time together. Life is very precious and gone too soon. We hope to leave happy memories for our children and grandchildren. Not by spending huge amounts of money on them, but by spending precious time together. Capturing these times in photos of our loved ones.
Chickpea xx
Lovely post, there will be many families who will have an empty seat this Christmas its a difficult time and yes its not about the gifts the money spent the food or decorations its about investing time with family and friends something we can never get back
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said - thank you. You captured what being a family is all about - and what we all hope will be left when we are no longer on this earthly plain - happy, loving memories which sustain those we have left behind until we meet again...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post - everything you say is so very true. This will be the first Christmas for us without my Nanna and the empty seat at the table will be hard to bear. But we're fortunate in that we all live fairly close and so can all be together -- it's the time spent, not the money spent, that matters, especially as the years go by.
ReplyDeletewishing you and yours a wonderful day....xoxo
Hear, hear. Such a poignant post, family and friends are always remembered. Quality time spent with family is the most precious of all. Wishing you a wonderful family Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a happy Christmas with all your special people around you. Thanks for your comments over the year, it's been so nice to hear from you. Good luck with your move next year too. :-)
ReplyDeleteyes, a sister missing at our family gatherings this year.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post and photo.
ReplyDeleteLovely post.
ReplyDeleteA lovely thoughtful post that sums up how I feel about Christmas too. xx
ReplyDeleteso sorry about your friend. may you remember happy times with missing faces and not feel sad this Christmas, they would not want you to x
ReplyDeleteYou hold a true spirit of Christmas, I hope your family bring you joy at this time.
ReplyDeleteSuch a poignant post - yes, being with loved ones is what it's all about :) x
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Your post is so poignant and, yes, we have 3 empty chairs at Christmas now too. FiL is 93 and very frail but we hope he will be able to join us again this year. God Bless you, Chickpea, enjoy your family Christmas x
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you and the family are there. I think with sadness about people who die alone in hospital.
ReplyDeleteHave a good Christmas if you can
So very sorry to hear about your friend. I hope that you will have as good a Christmas as you can. xx
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think friends and family is what Christmas is all about. I'm so very sorry to hear about your friend, I hope that her passing is as peaceful and pain free as possible and I'm sure you'll have many happy memories.
ReplyDeleteJust make sure you enjoy every bit of it!
ReplyDeleteI agree that Christmas is about family and being with people. I always think of those that will be alone at this time of year. I hope you have a good Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you got to spend some precious time with your friend. I like to spend time with family and friends at Christmas but find it quite hectic and already now, I am looking forward to some quiet days when my Swiss family has departed. Wishing you a lovely peaceful Christmas. x
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that time runs fast and sometimes it's too less time to spend it with ones you really love. It always seems like really good and precious people to you, leave too fast.
ReplyDeletewell said - I think creating fond memories with those we love are the best presents we can give x
ReplyDeleteSorry,no words.Huge Hugs xxx
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Happy Christmas to you too Lynne xx
ReplyDeleteThat is true, family and friends are important the gifts are not. Cherish the memories you have, I'm sorry for your loss. xx
ReplyDeleteFeliz 2016 para ti y todos tus seres amados.
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