The Meaning of Christmas
It was October, I was in Lyon in France when my mum told me my Granny had terminal cancer. We were on holiday visiting my sister on her semester abroad, sitting in my parents hotel room after going out for dinner. It was a really nice evening, until my mum’s phone rang. My mum had known for a while but wanted to wait until we got back from France to tell us. That was until we got the call saying my Granny had been rushed to the hospital.
Time went by and my Granny became continually worse, my mum moved down the road to live in my Granny’s bungalow to care for her full time, whilst I stayed at home, trying to balance helping my Mum with my Granny, and helping my Dad, who was feeling unwell due to a car accident a few years ago, which left him with spinal injuries. On top of all that, I had studies to tend to, university applications to fill, mock exams and dissertation deadlines… My entire family survived on very little sleep for months, but in the run up to Christmas, everyone’s spirits remained hopeful.
The doctor told us that it was unlikely my Granny would make it until December, her condition was decreasing rapidly and there wasn’t anything anyone could do. But my Granny, being the stubborn old sod that she was, didn’t accept that as an answer. Despite the odds, she was completely determined to make it until Christmas. She told us every day that all she wanted was the whole family to be together. So, all through December we managed to reunite her with family from Ireland, USA, New Zealand and England. We decorated the house top to bottom, making the atmosphere as festive as possible. Christmas tunes were on a constant loop through the air, the lights were always twinkling and living in the highlands of Scotland, she was able to sit by the fireplace and watch the snow fall outside.
Our whole family had a big Christmas dinner in the dining room of our house. My boyfriend and Uncle carried her wheelchair up the front steps so she was able to be with everyone, She would afterwards tell me what a nice young man my boyfriend was. However, once the presents were opened, the turkey had be sliced and the crackers were pulled, it was clear my Granny was becoming tired, although she still had a big grin on her face. Being the religious woman she was, I heard her look up and say “Well, I made it”.
After a traditional evening nap in front of the TV, my mum and my Granny returned back to her little bungalow down the road. Before saying goodbye, my Granny told me and my sister how much she loved us and held out her hand to give us something. She gave me a gold necklace, which she was given for her 16th birthday by her Mother, and my sister was given a ring. Attached to both was a small written note which said, ‘love always, Gran.’
That was the last time I spoke to my Granny, who passed away two days later. In the run up to this first Christmas without her, she is in my thoughts quite often. Christmas was so important to her and she put all her energy into being with her family on Christmas day. It made me seriously consider what Christmas really is all about
Image: http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2015/04/hith-father-christmas-lights-iStock_000029514386Large.jpg and https://static.pexels.com/photos/17795/christmas-xmas-christmas-tree-decoration.jpg