Bah Humbug Blues

I have to tell you...to be frank I have been totally humbug thus far this year. It is very unlike me, but I have had a full plate so to speak, and I have had little time to smell the mistletoe. Yesterday I spent a great deal of time with Tom, and we had such a great day. I was starting to be in the Christmas spirit a bit. This morning I had something happen that just pushed me right over the edge into full-fledged holiday mode.

One of the guys that I work with came in to ask a favor. He asked me to copy some DVD's for him, and he told me the story. It seems that his wife was recently home at her folks house in PA because she lost her brother to cancer. He was only 51. While she was there, in the attic she came across several 8 mm films of her family when they were all little. She is one of eight children. In the films she looks to be about 8 or 10. She brought them home and took them to Ritz camera to have them made into a DVD. This is what he ask me to copy. She wanted to have copies for her siblings.

As I made these for him, I took a peek at the film. It was the most wonderful thing I have seen in a long time. They were so good. The kids playing ball, running around the yard, the cars with fins and her dad there smoking a pipe. Just to see all of those memories and to think that she will take these with her and share them with her unsuspecting brothers and sisters. There were pictures of all 8 of them at Christmas with her uncle dresses at Santa Claus. She lost this uncle not too long ago also. Just the priceless memories that the film held. What a treasure to find! And what a gift to be able to share right here at Christmastime! I could not help but shed some tears. I know they are not my family...really I do not know his wife. I have met her once, but of course it made me reflect on my own family. The jumpy black and white film with fuzzy edges...our family has similar footage. It just brought it all home for me. I am now ready for Christmas. I know he thought that he asked me for the favor...I think that it was the other way around. Merry Christmas everyone! Love to each of you!