Walk was Christmas highlight

“Don’t hit the brakes . . . don’t hit the brakes . . . don’t hit the brakes . . . just keep it straight,” I told myself as the car slipped sideways towards the people standing blissfully unaware by the side of the road.
This changed to “Thank you, God” when the tires regained traction on the snow covered surface. It lasted only a few seconds, but my heart was still pounding when I got to the stop sign a minute or two later.
The snow currently blanketing my world is beautiful, and occasionally treacherous when it is smashed onto the road. I had gone out of town to exchange a Christmas sweater and also to get a birthday present for granddaughter, Emma. The highway from here to there was damp but clear. The road I turned onto was not. I had been driving like a little old lady, just creeping along on my way home when the powers that be decided to put a little excitement into my day.
I needed to get something good for Emma as she had made a very nice set of potholders for my husband and me for Christmas. He was surprised that she wove them herself and did such a neat job. I hope Emma likes what I finally purchased.
We went to my brother’s for the holiday. They tortured their dog by putting a Santa hat on him. That lasted for about five seconds. I brought along the singing and dancing chicken that our daughter had gotten for my husband. The dog was as wary of it as our cat had been. We put it away after having a good laugh at the animal’s expense. I could see that he wanted to eat the chicken or at least rip its fuzzy head off.
We migrated to the kitchen and were surprised when our mother joined us — without her walker. It was the first time in a long time that any of us had seen her walk without it. She was beaming at her surprise, and we were as happy as she was. She walked all the way back to her wheelchair in the living room before declaring that was all she could do.
It was the best present ever. She told us she had been practicing so she could surprise us.
As happy as I was to see her walk, it also made me sad. I remember when she could climb up and down the ladders to the hay mows and sling bales of hay down with never a complaint. She had also helped put the the bales into the hay loft. To know that she was once so strong and now she is not, bothers me. I want her to be the healthy woman she once was, not the one for whom it is a major accomplishment to walk across the floor.
Still, it was a good Christmas. We were together. My daughter hosted the celebration for her relatives in Texas. Her lights went out in the late afternoon and didn’t come back on until almost bedtime.
They had gotten headlamps for all the kids so they attached the lights to the ceiling fan so they would have light. It was a memorable Christmas they won’t soon forget.
Now all of her immediate family has bad colds along with the creeping crud. I’m glad we didn’t go down there for the holiday. I would much rather have stayed home and seen my mom walk.
When we were getting ready to leave my brother’s house, my mom asked for her hat. The dog brought his Santa hat to her. Mom preferred her own hat.
Now we are safely home. We are finding space for the new possessions and playing with our new toys. Presents have been bought for January birthdays and we are all safe and sound.
This past year has been one where we have hit a couple of slippery patches in our journeys through life but, so far, we have regained traction and made it to our destinations. Sometimes that is enough.
 

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