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First of all, the water situation is better than formerly believed. It now meets the minimum standards (just barely) and boiling is not required. I'm still drinking bottled water, mind you.
Second, my family is, frankly, more awesome than I had altogether realized. Last year when I came down, things were... difficult. Not with them, but with the associated detrius of a broken marriage that had been left hither and yon in my parents home when we moved to Seattle. In particular, my room was exactly the same as we'd left it, down to the bedding. I lost it as all that grief I thought I'd dealt with came back and overwhelmed me. I refused to even sleep in the room until I'd at least bought new bedding to sleep on. It was really, really rough, sorting through and cleaning out and revisiting the last days over Christmas.
Not this year, though.
This year, I arrive to see that my mom has totally rearranged my room. Furniture is different and in different places, the china doll my grandmother painted for me was on a stand, displayed in the corner, my artwork I'd had to leave here was up on the walls, the bedding was new... it was just lovely. I can't tell you how much it meant to me that she did that. It was amazing. She'd also redone the kids' room, but not too much -- still familiar, but far more useful.
And then today for Christmas, they really outdid themselves for me. I got a couple of new robes (my brother/SIL and mom forgot to check with each other on that one), a gift card, a bracelet, and a nice sweater... and my mom wants to take my shopping over the next couple of days for more work clothes.
William got a new basketball and Dad put up the net on the old goal, and the two of them shot baskets and practiced dribbling and everything for hours outside today. Alisdair got Legos and played Twister with his cousin, Libby, for nearly as long (he's the undisputed Twister champ, apparently). My mom cooked and it was great, and I helped here and there and got things set up and felt vaguely bad about not having more gifts for everyone, but overall it didn't matter.
I just... I'm truly blessed. Being here is still hard, but they make it worthwhile. I'm still sorta sad that New Years will pass largely unremarked for me this year, but that's okay. I am fortunate to have them. Merry Christmas indeed.
Second, my family is, frankly, more awesome than I had altogether realized. Last year when I came down, things were... difficult. Not with them, but with the associated detrius of a broken marriage that had been left hither and yon in my parents home when we moved to Seattle. In particular, my room was exactly the same as we'd left it, down to the bedding. I lost it as all that grief I thought I'd dealt with came back and overwhelmed me. I refused to even sleep in the room until I'd at least bought new bedding to sleep on. It was really, really rough, sorting through and cleaning out and revisiting the last days over Christmas.
Not this year, though.
This year, I arrive to see that my mom has totally rearranged my room. Furniture is different and in different places, the china doll my grandmother painted for me was on a stand, displayed in the corner, my artwork I'd had to leave here was up on the walls, the bedding was new... it was just lovely. I can't tell you how much it meant to me that she did that. It was amazing. She'd also redone the kids' room, but not too much -- still familiar, but far more useful.
And then today for Christmas, they really outdid themselves for me. I got a couple of new robes (my brother/SIL and mom forgot to check with each other on that one), a gift card, a bracelet, and a nice sweater... and my mom wants to take my shopping over the next couple of days for more work clothes.
William got a new basketball and Dad put up the net on the old goal, and the two of them shot baskets and practiced dribbling and everything for hours outside today. Alisdair got Legos and played Twister with his cousin, Libby, for nearly as long (he's the undisputed Twister champ, apparently). My mom cooked and it was great, and I helped here and there and got things set up and felt vaguely bad about not having more gifts for everyone, but overall it didn't matter.
I just... I'm truly blessed. Being here is still hard, but they make it worthwhile. I'm still sorta sad that New Years will pass largely unremarked for me this year, but that's okay. I am fortunate to have them. Merry Christmas indeed.
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no subject
Date: 2007-12-26 04:52 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-12-26 06:01 am (UTC)From:*big hugs!*
no subject
Date: 2007-12-26 06:48 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-12-26 07:44 am (UTC)From:Just got back from my Christmas dinner/outing, and I have eaten enough for a week!
Still no eggnog, though ... have to do something about that.
What do you mean about New Year's?
no subject
Date: 2007-12-26 02:38 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-12-26 06:16 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2007-12-26 06:40 pm (UTC)From:Oh well ... maybe next New Year's?