Traditions

Traditions have always been very important in my family. We used to go out to a movie on Thanksgiving - that tradition kind of died when I went away to school and we replaced it with going to a movie on Christmas day. We open all of our Christmas presents on Christmas Eve because my mom didn't want us to believe in Santa. We have potato soup on Christmas Eve and roast on Christmas Day. And, those are just the beginning.

One of my favorite traditions will never happen again. One of the many things that has changed about life since Jason went to heaven. This tradition happens on December 22nd. Jason and I would get up in the morning and go get coffee and then we would go purchase his Christmas presents for others. We would go get lunch and then go home where we would proceed to watch a movie while I would wrap the presents and put them under the tree, and then we would make dinner before mom got home (if we were home in time for that...sometimes we weren't).

As it has gotten closer to the 22nd this year, I find myself having a hard time. It was a day that always revolved around Jason - ever since I was 13. It has been a tradition for 1/2 of my life, and I don't know how to deal with it not revolving around him. One thing I am glad for is having friends here in Oregon who are willing to set aside things in their lives to support me. I don't know what tomorrow is going to look like, but I know that I have friends who will be there for me when I need support.