When I first starting working as a Nurse, it was known that I would be working holidays. Healthcare is 24/7. Our family holiday was always Thanksgiving. We would all go up to Mary's - "over the river and through the woods"- truly. The year Mom was failing, we did it here in North Haven, but resumed the next year up in New Hampshire.

Brittany always went to her Dad's on Christmas. John Michael would have it no other way. Those were tough years. Poor kids didn't know if they were cousins, brother and sister. Bruce and I and John and Lorraine knew the kids had to come first in this crazy situation.

Bruce and I would not do Christmas until I had a day off. One year it was January 3rd! He would put the Christmas music on, we would have a late dinner and then it was up and off to work for me. Nice thing was that Christmas season was extended. We got to have many celebrations, dinners, gift openings and ours was still to come.

Stroke brought new traditions. We tried Mary's that first Thanksgiving post-stroke. I had to drive home the same night. Their home is just not handicap-accessible. But that is not to say that things won't be different next year. I am willing to give it another try. But Mary and the girls chose to come here for the time being.

This year, of course, was the wedding. We held off Thanksgiving so everyone could come here December 8th. Mary and I were on the phone most of Thanksgiving. In a perfect world, either one of us could have gone to the other. But the world is no longer perfect.

I had a tough time this year. I was exhausted from the wedding, depressed because of the trouble in Connecticut. Just could not face bringing all the Christmas stuff up and then repack it. Last year I would pop Bruce out of bed at 5am, light the tree for him every single morning. Hung the cards, helped him with the cards. And in all honesty, I have no clue if it mattered or not.

Mary's family is in New Jersey. Dad's gift to the girls was a concert of one of their fav's - I have no clue who. Mary had to work and also someone had to tend to the animals, so we have had some great phone conversations after Bruce has gone to bed. We both agreed that we would have rather been in Atlantic City with each other than supervise an 18 and 20 year old. Dad does that so much better - LOL!

So she is coming for the weekend! I am one happy gal. I got her a digital camera - credit card points. I did not want to ship it. Her husband opens everything and the girls would have it apart before Mary even got to see it. Now don't get me wrong. Family politics are what they are. There is no way I could have gotten through all of this without Mary and there is no way she could have been there for me without her husband. I fully accept this.

But we will have New Haven pizza for dinner tomorrow night. Family due in Saturday. Bruce is just so excited he is having trouble settling in tonight. And Christmas is coming. Debbie