A Gunn Family Christmas Or
December 29th 2008 20:17
Last week, my girlfriend Tracey, daughter Jessica and I spent Christmas in my hometown of Columbus Georgia. It was a surprise for my mom because she had no idea that we were coming. It seems that my sisters, Monique and Tonya, can indeed keep a secret !!
I was really excited because this was the first Christmas that all of us have been home at the same time in over 10 years !! I was also a little nervous because they were meeting Tracey and Jessica for the first time.I knew everything would be just fine from the second my mom answered the door !! She hugged Tracey and Jessica as if they'd been with me for a lifetime.
We got inside and it was a couple of hours before I even unpacked the car because we were talking so much.It has to be noted here that my family is very protective of me especially when it concerns who I share my life with. According to mom and my sisters, my ex - wife is still going to be on the receiving end of a long overdue ass - kicking. That thought, however wrong, still causes me to chuckle a bit. My sisters and retired Navy and even I don't test them... much.
This has to be the best Christmas I ever had, not because of the stuff under the tree, but because of the gift of love my family continues to share with me and the love they extended to Tracey and Jessica. If you could've seen the way Tracey interacted with everyone, you'd know one of the reasons why I love her so much. She is who she is and that scored major points with my mom. The fact that they're both veterans of the medical field doesn't hurt either. They started talking about coding and I had no clue what they were saying. I just reveled in being there to see the two most important women in my life talking and laughing together.
At some point, we got around to opening gifts, which was a real adventure in and of itself. My mom played Santa and all of the kids (adults and children LOL) ripped and tore into boxes like a pack of wolves that hadn't eaten in weeks !! There were plenty of sweaters, shoes, ipods, iphones and a couple of really nice Italian sports jackets. There was even a couple of laptops. The Gunn Clan made out like fat rats. LOL.
It was time to present mom with her gift. The kids and I gave her a digital photo album and it was already loaded with pictures that I had my siblings send to me. Mom started crying when she started looking at the photos and then I presented the last gifts to my sisters and brother. I had matching bracelets made with the inscription "YOU ARE A LINK IN THE WORLD'S STRONGEST CHAIN...OUR FAMILY". It was pretty much over for my mom at that point. I wanted to do something that would be a physical reminder of the bond we have as brothers and sisters.
Later that night, we went to see my dad and our baby sister, Olivia. I was never so glad to see anyone as I was to see them. My dad, by far, has been the biggest influence on my life and the irony of it all is that we don't really talk all that much. He and I both agree that we really don't have to. You see, the man in this photo is not my biological father but we have a bond that is stronger than a lot of fathers and sons. That's another story for another time.
It was wonderful to see how much Olivia has grown and to see where she's headed in life. It's a comfort to know that she shares the Gunn trait of over achievement !! She'll do well in this life.
Another trait my family shares is that THEY'RE ALL NUTZ !!! I haven't laughed so hard and so much in I don't know how long and it's something that I miss. Over the years, my family has become more deranged !!
My stepdad "Papa Rich", who's usually very laid back and someone quiet, had this thing about sending women to "obedience school". Normally, I'd laugh at something like that except we (men) were wayyyyy outnumbered by the women in the house !!! I just hope mom didn't beat him to within an inch of his life after we left. LOL
My brother, Derrell, works with kids in the Norfolk School district as a security officer and has often had to counsel kids that were acting up and headed down the wrong path. A lot of parents credit him with helping to keep their kids on the straight and narrow.
Derrell is very quick - witted, and will hit you with a joke or 10 before you knew what happened. The end result is always you laughing your face off. He had a moment with Jessica that was priceless in the "I know what you're talking about even if your parents don't" mode. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what happened. LOL.
Tonya has the biggest personality out of all of us. It's like she's taken a page out of my mom's playbook in that "I'm going to enjoy my life and the devil be damned". Tonya also has a very wicked sense of humor. On the flip side, she's very spiritual and wears her faith on her sleeve. Although she doesn't go around quoting chapter and verse, you know exactly where she stands. That was something that was a huge comfort to me during my divorce.
Monique is probably the most pragmatic of all of us. She's somewhat low key and tends to be a no nonsense kind of person. She also has one of the most giving hearts of anyone I've ever known. I think she and Tracey established the deepest bond. It's amazing how much you can learn about someone while sitting at the "butt can" LOL. I knew a bond was established when Tracey told me that "Nee - Nee" got on her about something she'd said to Jessica. That's something you normally wouldn't so with someone you've basically just met.
I'd like to think that I'm somewhat a combination of all three of them and that they share some of my traits as well. Over achievement being one of them and we're all the sum of what our parents made us. I think they've done an incredible job.
I told Tracey on the way home that despite all of the laughter, great food and family bonding, that was being sized up. My baby was able to jump into the craziness feet first and made quite a few connections, especially with my mom. Monique pointed out to her that she must've made a positive impression because mom was repeating what she'd said about her cooking. Mom asked Tracey if she enjoyed the food and Tracey replied "it was terrible and I'm never eating at this dump again." Mom howled !!!
All in all, I felt like "George Bailey" in "It's A Wonderful Life". The scene at the end of the movie when all of his friends come to house to help him with $ 8000 that he needed. Then his little brother toasts "to my big brother George, the richest man in town" !
The greatest gift I've received this Christmas is in knowing just how rich I am. I have an absolutely incredible family and the two most important women in my life, my mom and my Tracey, loving me unconditionally.Your text goes here
To paraphrase "Tiny Tim" from "A Christmas Carol", "God Blessed Us.. .Everyone".Your text goes here
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Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
That, my friend, is what Christmas is about.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.