At this time last year we had a house full of people; My brother, his wife and their son were visiting from almost four thousand kilometres away where they live, right up at the top of Australia. They were here to spend Christmas with us for the first time in many years and it was the first time Faith and I had had young children around at Christmas for longer than we could remember.
We had only just met my nephew for the first time and from that first uncle-hug with him I was bonded with him. That little guy, not yet two, and I were inseparable for the week they visited, other nappy-change-time of course, I made sure I was a long way off at those moments! We became best mates and remain so.
As uncles and aunt's are supposed to do we spoiled him on Christmas day. Faith and I had spent some time finding all sorts of things; Clothes, books, a hat and toys...We hadn't spend a huge amount of money but put a lot of love into it and were keen to see him open his gifts on Christmas morning.
He loved everything we got him and played with it all, and still does a year later. The thing he loved the most though? Trucks. He loves trucks. He loves bulldozers too, he calls them boo-doh-doors and anything that looks like one is one, even if it's not.
Of course, they had to leave eventually, and we were very sad. We missed him so much, and his parents too of course. Having them here at Christmas was so great as all of my family have moved elsewhere and it's rare to see them. Having them here last Christmas had made me very happy.
We have video-chatted most weeks since then but that's not the same and we will really miss them this year at Christmas; It will be a quiet Christmas day
Whilst tidying up the other day, one of those cleans where everything gets moved, we came across this truck. This was one of those Faith and I gave to my nephew last Christmas and it must have gotten missed in the pack up. Faith found it and brought it to me and...Well, it made me get a little emotional as it reminded me of that little bloke and how much I really miss him.
It now sits on my home office desk, right next to one of my own toy cars I was given forty or so years ago, my favourite one, and will remain there as a constant reminder of my nephew.
I showed him the truck on a video-chat a few days ago and he laughed and shouted, uncle gangyangs truck! He's bilingual, learning English and Japanese simultaneously, so his pronunciation isn't quite right. It was a nice moment and he raced off to get his own and we played trucks together over video-chat for a while. It was a nice moment and I'm glad this truck got left behind so I could play with my nephew.
This year we won't be playing with toys on Christmas day but we will be video-chatting with my nephew at the top of Australia and my niece in Finland...We'll be sharing their Christmas day, checking out their toys or whatever they get from Santa, and generally just trying to connect with them as much as we can. It always makes me happy to do so, but I always feel like I'm missing out on so much of their lives through the distance that keeps us separated; I feel detached from them mostly, but also strangely, always connected.
This little toy is a connection to my nephew, a link, and I'm pleased to have it; I'm also pleased to have brothers that ensure their children do not forget who I am and they both always talk about me with their kids and promote the connection to their uncle. This is important to me, and to Faith, as we are a childless couple - I suppose it makes out niece and nephew so much more important to us.
And how about you folks? Do y'all have lots of family around at this time of year, kids running and screaming around the place, loads of activity and noise? Or is your Christmas like Faith's and my own, quiet and spent mostly by ourselves? Feel free to comment below, I really value your interaction.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
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