Over the Backyard Fence

Christmas came early for us this year, which is why I haven't been around to post lately. Just a lot to do, a lot to breathe in and enjoy, and though it makes for great blog fodder, I just didn't have the inclination to pause and write it all down.

Our family gathering took place last weekend when we celebrated my dad's 90th birthday. As many family members as possible came to town, and we gathered at my brother's house -- which is the house we grew up in -- for a spaghetti dinner. My talented niece Brandi made two cakes -- one for my dad and another for her sister Sami, who was celebrating her 30th birthday that day. My brother Matt and I each cooked up a batch of Mom's spaghetti sauce with meatballs and sausage. We are both certain that we have 'the original' recipe, although that is hard to determine because Mom would sometimes write different versions of her recipe, not because she was being secretive, but she had four kids and 10 grandkids, and a lot on her mind. As an aside, my mom was just a little bit Italian, mostly English and Irish and some Polish. Us kids are half of that and the rest German. So we had my 'real Italian' friend Kathy judge the meatballs, because when you are gathered with a bunch of Germans making a spaghetti dinner who are we to know what tastes best? I won't tell you who won, but Kathy and I need to have a little talk.

I saw a quote recently that "it's not about the presents under the tree, but the people around it." The same could be said for birthdays. As the family gathered around the birthday cake and we sang to my dad and niece, well, his eyes shone with love. Nothing wrapped could have made him happier, and my brothers and I felt we'd succeeded in giving him the exact birthday present he wanted.

The next day the family who stayed at our house, including Sam and Joe, were gathering up their things to leave. I felt that I'd had my best Christmas present, too, having so many loved ones under my roof.

Dad and Sami.

They say life is what you make it. My dad created a great life, not just for himself, but for my brothers and me. When we were quite small, he took the opportunity to move us from the east coast to Colorado, not an easy feat as we left so much extended family behind. But, what great opportunities it created for all of us, and we learned to love the mountains and hiking and camping, and from him we gleaned an appreciation for nature and the outdoors. We're all thankful he and Mom took the plunge and got us out west. Dad continues to lead by example, and is a wealth of wisdom. When one of us is stumped or in disagreement, Matt will say, "Let's call Yoda and see what he says." (Dad is also incredibly tolerant of my brothers and their loving irreverence.) 

Ah, family is what it's all about, it's the gift that can't be wrapped. I'm still anticipating the arrival of Christmas, but the real celebration is the love that I'm blessed with everyday by a family that has been taught well by an awesome dad.