I awoke recently from troubled dreams to find I had become Santa Claus.
My beard is white. My face is lined. My back hurts. Those bags are heavy!
The good news is a Santa Claus attitude toward life. I’m grateful for what I have, more willing to give to others.
Jenni and I celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary two days before Christmas. She’s a wonderful Mrs. Claus. We’re comfortable together. We also share home office space since her employer moved far beyond where MARTA’s sleigh can go.
What no one tells you about healthy aging is that it’s a lot of work. Exercise is no longer an option. Jenni’s metal knees aren’t new anymore, so our Christmas gift to each other is an Echelon indoor spin cycle. My back and legs demand yoga stretches every day. Long walks help, too.
Our kids are now old enough to write their own Christmas cards. I’ll just say that John has a job waiting for him in Taiwan whenever they process his visa application. Robin has a job waiting for her somewhere.
The future is also waiting, but it’s no longer unlimited. Jenni’s cancer has been in remission for over 5 years, and she is no longer taking medication for it, but we are not immortal. We don’t know where, or how it all ends, but we feel it in our bones.
We hug each other tight against the darkness. We wish you joy and we wish you peace.
