That's a Wrap

Well, Christmas is now over. I still have some gifts to dole out to relatives and friends I haven't seen yet but the actual event has concluded. The formulaic series of events I spoke of in years past didn't transpire this season. It was very quiet and much different than the usual affair. I spent the first couple of days being home just hanging out with my parents. We watched both seasons of Stranger Things in under three days. That is impressive considering they were at work during the day for the first couple. It was good, I won't spoil anything but it was fun. Definitely less awkward than watching Game of Thrones season 1 with my Mom. Anywho, yes, back on track, Christmas followed a familiar, but different, path this year. We still made most of the same stops. Same routine for Christmas Eve, similiar Christmas Day, different Boxing Day. It was the first year I can remember that we didn't go to my Grandma's on Christmas morning. Since she is in the home, we had lunch with her the previous day and left her to her treatment on the actual day. Without the lynch pin of the season it left the door open for the siblings to do their own thing. The families are large enough now that gathering isn't easy or practical. Two of the five branches didn't even come North this year. One did but at staggered times and another did their own Christmas entirely. For my scion of the family tree, we had 4 of 5 present and such hosted Christmas morning brunch. I think there is going to be a two year cycle going forward. Next year might be the year that everyone comes home for Christmas and re-institutes the annual traditions. Christmas Day dinner was essentially the same as the last few years. Boxing Day was different, without the crowds we didn't need a venue and just went to someone's house to eat. It wasn't as big and certainly not as formal as usual. I guess times change and new traditions develop. No matter what it looked like, it was fun. I got everything I asked for this year, which was excellent. I was able to deliver upon the asks of me as well, which was also nice. As they say, it's better to give than receive. I still like to receive but it was nice to share some happiness. I'll be wrapping up my time in North soon and moving on down the highway.