Christmas Eve we always celebrate with my mom's family ... Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, cousins ... There were 22 of us there this year (plus 2 dogs).
It was wonderful. It was joyful and noisy. Everyone enjoyed themselves (who wouldn't with good food, good company, and prsents all around?). Even Uncle smiled more than usual.
I say 'even Uncle' because its often hard to tell how Much he is able to enjoy. He doesn't talk much and he hears even less. In as crowded room he may not be able to track much of a conversation. I know he is sometimes confused. I'm sure he is sometimes frustrated.
After the events were over, Robbie and I drove Uncle back to Veteran's Home on our way through town. I hadn't been in a car alone with him in a while. ... I expected a quiet, dull ride. I was wrong.
"What a beautiful day it is!" he said. "Yes, though I'd like to see the sun a bit" I replied. "Oh, that didn't stop the fun we were having in there, did it?" He countered.
He continued "I think I've had the best life a man could ever have lived. And I'm still living it. And today just proves it!"
*um, insert foot in mouth for any time I've ever complained.
The whole way to town he went on about how he is 'writing the history of his life' (it may be the 4th time hes done so I think ... But each time he remembers something not included in the previous volumes).
He went on about things that have made his life so great .... Times that were hard (like The Great Depression and World War II) that simply "made me better".
He rambled about people who had helped him along the way (he claims he was forced to go to high school when someone offered to pay for it, forced to go to college when the military helped pay, and basically forced into teaching and coaching).
He discussed the memories he has of family past that he wants to write down for 'us kids'.
And every so often would say "the more I write about it, ghe more I knowI've just had the best life a man could ever live!".
Here is a man who has seen and experienced first hand hardships I have never had to face. A man wounded in war who almost died. A man who never married, never had children. A man who cannot hear and whose knees are giving out and must hurt terribly. A man fast removed from the "prime" of his life. A man whose daily high light is 'going to the country' each day when someone picks him up from the nursing home and takes him to sit and visit and my grandparents for a bit.
A man who has real perspective. A man who is thankful and counts himself as blessed. A man who easily recognizes what an awesome family I get to be a part of ... A man who has been a huge part of making it awesome.
There were things he could so easily complain about. Things he could be bitter and angry about. But instead, he chooses to say "I've had the best life a man could ever live - and I'm still living it!"
Talk about an example. Talk about humbling. Talk about perspective.
Because, when you look at it his way ... I've had the best life a girl could ever live ... And I'm still living it. And each day just proves it!
