It Adds up to Life

The grueling trek started Christmas eve...

Rosemary and I would go to her parent's house late afternoon Christmas eve to celebrate her grandmother's birthday.  From there we would go to my parent's house a half hour away.  We would begin a four hour period of eating around seven, followed by a forty-five minute trip to church for Midnight Mass.  After that we went back to my parent's house to open gifts.  Rosemary and I would get home about four in the morning.  We were up early to open gifts in our house and then back to Rosemary's parent's house and off to nine o'clock Mass.  Back at their house, we'd open up gifts and then prepare for a Christmas dinner of around twenty-five people.  Following dinner Rosemary's younger brother and sisters would have friends over and the serious partying began.  We usually didn't get home until midnight.

The importance of family cannot be understated.  Neither can the importance of self-preservation.  We carried out the above ritual for four or five years until finally telling our parents that we just couldn't do it anymore.  Although we had to endure a few knocks upside the head, we learned the old adage:  You can't please everyone.

After putting together a more sensible schedule we noticed a greater enjoyment of the holidays.

In those first few years we also had a few side adventures.  Our car broke down on the way home from Midnight Mass in one of the most dangerous areas in Cleveland, Ohio.  And twice I had to shovel ten plus inches of snow out of the driveway before we could pull in.  It had to be at least five when we made it to bed.

We all trek the roadways of experience that combine to make us the persons we are today.  As we garner tidbits of learning along the way, it adds up to one thing.  It adds up to life.

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David Rothacker is the author of Rothacker Reviews, where he presents “Most Excellent Books, Businesses and Folks.”

Comments

[Steve Sherlock]

It does indeed add up to life. Now this internet thing allows us to share these stories, and something one writes triggers another to remember when... and life adds up to more than it was. The family is not so small anymore. Not so "alone" in the world. We are all more alike than we may readily acknowledge. I am thankful for the sharing we all do. Thanks, Dave for triggering this today!

[Carolyn Manning]

Tradition has become a tradition we can ill afford sometimes. Family ties, on the other hand, are something we can ill afford to cut. Where to draw the line? Hasn't that been a nagging question for at least the past few generations?

I have no answers; just wanted to toss that into the pot.

[dave]

Man Steve, I love that part! Triggers, life adds up to more than it was, share stories...it is soooo beautiful.

I hear you Carolyn. We over did it in our case. Following our adjustments, no one was left out. We also divided up holidays over the course of the year - instead of trying to hit everyone on the same day.

One suggestion is to connect with family more often throughout the year - outside of holidays.

[toni]

Dave what a great story of love for family and love for self. For me, this is powerful story about how you have learned that you love your family to the nth degree and also love yourselves. Your story could not have come at a better time for me.

It looks like you found the balance of both loves even in the face of disapproval from your family. In the end, it is better to have balance, right?.

How perfect to say it does add up to life. Life's lessons, life's adventures and life's wisdom. Thank you sharing your mana'o for the holidays. You have given me a bright hope to look forward to.

[dave]

Thank you Toni! You have no idea how bright the brightness of your comment shines back to me. And to me, it IS better to have balance.