The Christmas That Was

Christmas really wasn't Christmas this year. I mean, I don't particularly ever look forward to Christmas, so most of the time it's just another day that I have to spend with my family, but this year it was different. Christmas just...was. I mean, don't get me wrong, everyone pitched in and everything turned out well, but it's not the same without my grandma. She managed to get up for half an hour while we were opening presents, and I got to see her for a few minutes later when she was awake, but it still didn't feel right. It didn't have the same atmosphere. Instead of my grandma and me in the kitchen, it was me and my parents. And my daddy and my uncle tim cleaned up afterward, which is just completely wrong because my grandma NEVER lets anyone but me help her clean up after dinner. And she wasn't bustling around making sure everyone has drinks and food and making my cousins and me stand in front of the Christmas tree for pictures after we got all dressed up for Church. At dinner, I sat in her chair and it just wasn't right. Christmas isn't Christmas anymore.