Not The Way I Imagined...

  It is Christmas Eve and, once again, the Little Bayou House sits quiet.  This is one of the downfalls of getting old.  Kids have a way of growing up on you and moving far away leaving the house way too empty.  On Christmas Eve, the place should be bustling with family and friends.  Last minute baking, gift wrapping and stocking hanging activities should rule.  Carols being sung, kids dancing with anticipation and happy chattering that once echoed through the halls are now only rattling through the dark nooks and crannies of my brain.  Those are memories...happy memories but just memories.  Those things should be happening here!  They are not.  Instead, I am sitting here reminiscing of Christmases Past when all of those things did occur.  

  The Little Bayou House is decorated somewhat, hundreds of cookies have been baked and a few gifts sit under the tree but even with all of that, the place seems dull.  Growing old is not for the weak....Trust me on that.  When we are young, we have dreams that our family will always be around...that all holidays will be spent together and, yet, the Little Bayou House sits empty.  The only sounds are ticking of the clocks and those ticks seem almost deafening.   I am thankful, however, for the company of the Bayou Princess Cat who has snuggled in beside me for the night. Merry Christmas, Ms. Nycto...Santa won't be visiting us tonight but we will be alright. We will be alright.  Merry Christmas!