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Do you hear it?

As the end of the year creeps closer it brings up so many memories for me.  I feel like I shared this memory a bit before but I am going to do a little more.  The holidays and growing up. 

For the first almost 6 years of my life my parents,  sister and I lived in Dover,  Delaware in base housing on the air force base.  My mom's stride of the family lived in its entirety almost,  in either Charleston or New York; Delaware sits almost right in the middle.  We did tons of traveling back and forth. This fact is the reason I have several cousin sisters and cousin brothers. We grew up together,  we loved each other and fought each other like siblings.  We also grumbled together about whichever adult was getting on our nerves at the time. 

Honestly, when I was that young I don't remember Thanksgiving as the big family holiday the way it was once I became a teen. Christmas through New year was our time.  My parents drove us around to look at all of the over the top decorations. There were a few that had donation boxes so they didn't have to personally absorb those electricity bills. As terrific as they were the paled in comparison to one house; my grandparents!

Nope, their house was not large and opulent with perfectly manicured lawns and snowscapes on the front lawn. In fact,  it wasn't a big house and it was in one of the lesser desired areas of Charleston. For 3, 4, 5 year old me though,  none of that even mattered. What was inside is what mattered.  I can't remember one present from those years.  I am sure there were presents but none as important as the people. My grandparents,  aunts, uncles, cousins--my people! I loved these people and these people loved me. 

I remember the laughter, the joy, the lovely smells, the not so lovely smells(several smokers back then), the hushed conversations and the loud ones.  I remember knowing that being with these people was a safe place to be.  The people made the holiday not any of the other things. 

I share this to say that there are so many among us that struggle and feel like less because they can buy the latest greatest whatever and I want to encourage everyone to realize,  kids do not remember the toys if the love is overflowing.  No one on their deathbed is worried about the things, they are worried about their people; the humans and if they loved them enough to mark their heart. 

Have a happy holiday but more importantly have a happy time in your life! 
SNH
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