Longing for Home

I know that I only live 40 minutes away from my family, but I have to say sometimes it feels like an eternity. There is so much going on in my family right now and living on campus makes me feel so separate from everything. My cousins just flew in town last night from Australia to spend one last holiday with my grandfather. Even just typing that out is hard for me. I refuse to believe that the man who has always seemed like the most fit, most fun-loving and one of the most interesting people I know will soon be gone from this world. As I sit here going through the end of semester motions I can't help but feel like I am missing out on some of his precious last moments. Just yesterday, my mom told me that his health is rapidly deteriorating and it's extremely painful for her to watch.

This holiday season has already meant so much more to me than any other. Maybe it's because I'm older and actually have some more perspective on life or maybe it's just because it took me until now to realize just how fabulous my family and friends are. I honestly have no idea what I did to deserve such amazing companions. They are so supportive, loving, funny, loud and most of all they're the cornerstones of my life. This season I just want to be able to spend quality time with all those that I love. I want to cherish every moment and really try and bond with my sisters, appreciate my parents, and revel in the moments I do have with my grandparents who are apparently not as invicible as I once thought.

I am so thankful that I was able to grow up in the same city as the majority of my family. As a result, I will have lifelong memories to cherish. Here are a few:

• Dancing the jitterbug with my grandpa in his living room
• Making dolls with grandma Diane and sorting through all her fun jewelery in the craft room
• Playing cards and drinking ginger ale and eating Drumstick ice cream cones at Char's apartment, the same apartment where I spent every single Christmas eve until the last few years.
• Castle and cribbage with Gramps
• Movie nights on Poplar Dr.
• Every Christmas morning giving my Grampa Turtles and watching as he gave the same reaction over and over
• Playing "I spy with my little eye" on the Christmas tree
• Making Char eat cookie dough and play basketball for the first time in her life
• Basketball with Gramps

You get the jist. I have fabulous grandparents. I couldn't be any luckier.

Fondly,
Kate