Below you can find another chapter from the book Thank you, mum. I hope it touches your heart.
(For the Swedish version, scroll down and then select Next post.)
"We can
wrap them just like back in the old days," you said and brought out white
wrapping paper, and a red rectangular box. It contained sealing wax. You heated
the wax using a candle, then you used it to seal the paper.
Did you do it because you wanted to
show me something from the past? Because you wanted to re-live childhood
memories? Or, maybe, because you didn't want to splurge on decorative Christmas
wrapping paper? I'm not sure, but we had such a good time together wrapping
those presents. Just like every year. The whole month of December was magical
and exciting. You always put on spectacular Christmas shows for your students
and created the coziest holiday ambiance at home.
Every day of Advent, we'd light the
candles and bring the cradle made out of clay. That cradle stuck around for
many years to come, even though the baby Jesus lost his head.
One Christmas we dipped candles in Grandma’s
kitchen. I didn't know it was so time-consuming. You desperately needed what I tend to lack. P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E.
The day of Lucia was one of our
greatest holidays. You celebrated with your students, and with us. When you no
longer worked as a teacher, you liked to see my children's Lucia recitals at
school.
Towards the end, when you had
trouble speaking, trouble keeping up with a conversation, you were still able
to wrap gifts. We put on Christmas music, brought out the wrapping paper,
scissors, tape, and presents. Your wrapping skills had dwindled some, mine were
just as pitiful as always. You looked at me and said, "How cozy is this?"
Every year, December was a special month, mum. You made every day so special, filled with holiday cheer. You spread it to
the rest of the family, you even put on little Christmas plays for your parents
and grandparents. You'd sing and play, my brother would play Santa, and I would
play Lucia. We would sing in our high-pitched kids' voices. Thank you, Mum, for
making Christmas so special, so special in fact, that it is still my favorite
holiday season.
Who's going to wrap presents with me
now, Mum? My teenagers are far from interested. My husband is not a
gift-giving enthusiast. Michiel would rather make you a great meal. You
and I would hunt down the perfect gifts. Something they'd want, yet something
they never saw coming. We cheerfully drank mulled wine, listened to Christmas
music, and wrap gifts. I'm the only one left who can see the beauty in this.
Next holiday season, when I sit down
to wrap those special gifts, I want you to be there.
When I sit down with the Christmas music going, I'll put out two glasses of mulled wine. One for me, one for you.
Promise you'll be there.
**
Please share this blogpost if you think it can help someone!
This was a chapter from the book Thank you, mum. A book for those who miss someone.
To read the first chapter, go to this post. To get a notification by mail when a new chapter is posted, click here.
If you would like to give the book to someone you think can be soothed by it, or to yourself, you can find it on Amazon on any of the links below, or you can search for it on your Amazon of choice. The price is around 17 euros. If your market shows another price, I suggest you try out another market.
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