By Ramona Flightner/ @ramonaflightner
I woke this a.m. a few days after Christmas with sore stomach muscles, and for a moment I was perplexed. I hate to admit how long it has been since I have been to the gym, so I knew it could not be from an over-exertional workout. I quickly realized as I thought about the holiday weekend that the gentle ache was from the numerous bellyaching laughs that had brought tears to my eyes and prevented any intelligible speech.
I remembered the long discussions at the dining room table, the laughter and the thought provoking conversations lasting for hours after our meals had finished. I reminisced on the games of scrabble as I watched my sister-in-law and father duel over word-wizardry supremacy while my brother and I fought to finish third. I recalled cooking in the kitchen with an oldies mix playing, laughing and talking with different family members as I cooked tapas. I remembered the ridiculous movies we watched, the sports, the gentle conversations that ebbed and flowed throughout the days.
The laughing, sharing, storytelling, wonderful meals, cheering over sports, all blended together to form a perfect collage of memories. I wouldn’t trade the memories I have from this weekend for anything. For me, this time with family, so infrequent these days as we are spread around the U.S., is such a rare gift. This is why I love the holidays: the ability to spend time with those I cherish most in this world. I hope that you and yours had an equally enjoyable holiday and that you have a wonderful, peaceful New Year.
© Ramona Flightner
