What I miss about Christmas.

A letter to Joe

Hi Joe;

I haven’t written to you since I sent the card at Christmas and it had a very short note in it about the Family, so its time to give you a real letter. We are all fine and it was a busy time for us again and you know I didn’t enjoy it as much this year.

I don’t know why but the misses felt the same way and we just couldn’t tell what it was that we didn’t like or maybe what we missed. That’s it we are missing something with the festive season and I will try to explain what I think it is.

Well number one I ain’t a kid anymore that would explain a lot, wouldn’t it?. When we talked about our child hood it was Christmas, a special time for us all and we told our stories of what it was like in each household. I am not from here and we did Christmas about the same way anyway.

First of all been a kid you have basically had no worries other than to behave and listen so Santa would give you a good gift. We were lucky if we got one special gift and the rest was candy and fruit. We were excited like our kids are now and could hardy wait to see what we got.

We try to keep those days as simple as possible but I am afraid that is going to get tougher each year as those boys get older. The boys still believe in Santa and I hope that stays until Jacob is old enough to find out. We will have to do some explaining and hopefully it goes well.

The kids are different now, then when we had our first two and things were really simple and we enjoyed that, we all loved Christmas and because we were younger as adults that counts for all lot. Now, that we are older and the burden of raising 3 young boys with special needs at our age is a challenge.

It sure takes the HA, HA, outta you pretty quick and there are days when we question “did we do the right thing”? and when we see those sweet faces all tucked in at night and giving a good night kiss and telling us they love us, yes “we did the right thing” and we thank God for this special favor that was given to us.

Heck, it don’t take long to verve off course does it?, I believe that I just did a digress from the topic. Another thing was that special, the smell at Christmas with the turkey in the oven. Pies cooling on the rack and my Dad and Mom having a Christmas cheer, looks like a rye and ginger to me. They had a few of these and it began to get louder as well.

We played and the gang came over and soon it sounded like the Bus terminal on a Saturday and everyone looking for a place in get in line. All our cares faded for this short time and celebrated with each other and toasted those that were in heaven and hoped they were happy as we were. No electronic toys and it was still noisy with the toys we had.

Now I notice that the toys are geared to an individual playing them and not as much for two or more. So we buy games that whole bunch of us can enjoy and build memories for them later. We did buy an iPad only because they use them at school and when they need to practice, then we have one. This toy is a natural for them and they use it like they built themselves.

Well, thank goodness they are willing to show me when I get a chance to play with it, but I have to wait my turn or get it later when they go to bed. You can’t mess it up, so its safe for old guys to use. Well, its time for another little night cap and I gotta go to bed because 24/7 at 6:30 am or sooner, these boys are up and ready for another day.

Take care, Joe, and Happy New Year.

Dear Joe;

We send each other cards and letters and we have a snap shot of how your lives are going. Its a thing we started when we first met in a Radiator Repair shop and my bike had a gas leak in the tank. I will write it up later and we can enjoy it to-gether.

Merry Christmas Folks and the Best to you all.

Dear Joe;

Thank you for your card, I can’t believe its that time already again. And congratulations on your 80th birthday, how do you stay so young. I guess its riding the Harley does it, I think I heard if you ride a bike you stop time for a while.

Yes, I will be going on 66 yrs old again this year, next year. I like to have my own party in May, its lot warmer and the beer tastes BETTER THEN.

We are all fine here, kids are growing up too fast and they are now, 10 yrs, 6 yrs and 4 yrs old. they sure keep us busy and we had our youngest son move to help us, well try too. They can sure run your ass off some days. We love them it’s a great job, sometimes.

Our mother-in-law has been passed away a year now and we will miss her at the table.
And the other day her cat died as well, we were taking care of her until Mom was able to so, now they are united together, again.

I am just a year clear of my cancer operation and still recovering from the treatments. I didn’t ride to much this year I was too weak and it was all I could do to a mile or so. Man, I tell you what, that was the hardest thing to be do, ever.

I spent more money on batteries than gas this year, both my bikes needed them and then they were running a little rough, tune up time.

Our weather has been great just enough snow to make snowmen and a small fort and its already melted away, kids aren’t happy, too bad.

Anyway, we wish you the best in the New Year and you have a Good Christmas and we will toast your birthday at the table. You know it’s a good time to toast you right now, so I am going to cupboard and get some wine and I will toast you every morning.

That, is until the misses finds out and then I will have to explain that it was your birthday and we always toast your birthday, everyday, with the bikers health drink, in this case some wine or it could be beer or it be some Jack or just good old rye, some days.

And as far it been too early in the morning, its never to early, well we have get the day off to a roaring start don’t we, I mean the Harley has to roar at bit before it, purrs.

Thank you and keep the rubber side down, ride well my friend!!.

Bruce,
Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your Family.