Your posts always touch me. Grief and sometimes guilt overwhelm me as Mom, one month before her death, celebrated her last birthday. She knew her life was ticking away and made us promise to stick together. Our tradition was on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year's, all eight of her children, spouses and grandchildren would gather and enjoy each other, laugh and love. No one enjoyed those times more than Mom. Death has taken two of her children, paring the brood to six and geography has prevented our Christmas gathering for the last three years. I grieve and smile at the memories. Thanks for reminding me. Your words are a gift.