We went “home” for the Christmas Holiday this year. I say “home” because this is the first Christmas we’ve gone back to the US after we sold our house and most of our belongings and relocated to London.
During the 4-1/2 years we lived in Japan, we went back to the US for Christmas all but one year. But it was back to our house, where our daughter was living. It was different, being in our house but our daughter’s home, but still familiar.
Then when we came back from Japan, we moved back into our house. But the Christmases in 2020 and 2021 were impacted by COVID, so not really “normal.” In 2022, the family did gather in our house for what we later would realize would be the last time.
This year, we all spent the days before Christmas together in two rented cabins at a local state park. It was nice, and I think everyone enjoyed it. It was very different for us, but maybe not as difficult as we thought it might be coming back “homeless” in the US for the first time.
One of our daughters graciously hosted everyone for Christmas brunch at her home, and it was wonderful. And we stayed with her for the short time before our return to London. Our other daughter in Atlanta hosted her brother and sister and their families, taking over the role we have played as a place for the family to gather for a few days.
All in all, we enjoyed this Christmas holiday. It was very different, but we still are thankful for the time together and the many, many blessings we have.
With Christmas over, our family is again dispersing… some to the Northeast, some in the Atlanta area, and us back to London.
We all have rich memories of growing up as a family… of celebrations in three different family homes over the years. Now we are making new memories, as the next chapters of all our lives unfold.
It is so tempting to dwell on the times gone by, and the memories we would like to revisit… and maybe even sadness or regrets about the things/places we no longer have. And there is a place for that, but not for too long. The future is before us and we must make it the best we can… as individuals, as our separate families, and as the “big” family that has grown up and matured over the last four decades.
Four Years in Japan ... and now Three Years in London 