IN MEMORY OF....

Tonight instead of a tip on beating holiday stress, I'd like to address something different. Loss. This time of year brings back many memories of family, friends, and good times. When you lose someone especially close, Christmastime just doesn't feel quite the same. There is an emptiness in your spirit. What always hurts me the most is when I happen to come across a perfect gift for my mom, who passed, that I know she would have loved. Or I read a Hallmark Christmas card written for a father from his daughter just to see what it says. Then, I end up balling my eyes out in the store because it says everything right, but I can't give it to my dad because he isn't here anymore. Many, many of us know this pain and go through it year after year. What can we do to make it better? Well, I am not sure, but I know they wouldn't want us to cry, they wouldn't want us to spend our Christmas being sad over them. Look for something special on Christmas Day, a sign from them just to you. Something will be there, and it will be something only you would recognize. Light a candle and say a prayer, if you must cry do it then and not again. Devote a few minutes to reminiscing then tell yourself that is all. Here's to each and everyone of you that has lost someone special in your life, when I light my candle on Christmas Day I will send a special prayer your way.