Grief Remembered...
It washed over me like a tsunami, the wave of overwhelming grief. Totally unexpected. Taking me totally unaware. And there I stood, my tears co- mingling with the water of my morning shower, as I was bathed in the mellow strains of Annie Murray's "I'll Be Home for Christmas" wafting up from the CD player in the living room. I hadn't felt this way in many years... and yet the grief was so raw, so present, belying the fact that the loss had happened 37 years ago. It was Christmas Eve 1978 and our family was gathered at the home of my parents for our traditional Christmas Eve celebration, before going to the Candlelight Service together. This had long been a highlight of the holiday for all of us- my parents, my sisters, and their families, and we were all eagerly awaiting the arrival of my youngest sister, to complete the family circle. The kids wanted to eat so the gifts under the tree...