As most of you know that I have lived a long time. I have seen things come and go. And have recognized many patterns to life. Some of them are good and some well, they come and go. I have see things that are good go by the wayside. And some things couldn’t leave too soon. When I graduated from high school, my parents and I bought the ugliest suit you have ever seen. It’s was a graduation gift. Now the wing tip shoes they brought with the suit, I liked. I don’t think the shoes ever went out of style. I have seen many men wear them throughout my life. I never wore polyester shirts or bell bottom jeans. But I did have crew cut hair that I put Dippety Do hair gel into it. That was quite a sight.

I have served in war and seen my sons go off to war. I seen my babies born and held them for the first time and cried. My wife had them all Caesarean section. And I was even in the operating room. And now they have babies. Growing up my family would gather at one of our houses for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter. That was a blessed time, but I didn’t realize it at the time. Then my family began to die. My grandmother and her sister first. Then my parents went. My aunts and uncles then passed on. My older and younger brother have since died. And I now find myself the patriarch of my family and feel alone. My early years with my family call to me and I remember those times.

Christmas is a special time of year for families. If you neglect your family during this time, you are doing damage to yourself and your family and friends. Sometimes this damage can’t be reversed. I have had to swallow my pride and reach out to my family just not to be alone. Even if they were wrong. I have never been perfect. I have tried to a decent life for my sake and others. But Christmas sometimes overwhelms me with memories. Press through the loneliness and reach out to your family, because one day they will be the patriarch of the family and remember the good times and the bad.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com