This Christmas was anything but ordinary—and somehow, that made it all the more memorable.
It started early this year. Really early. I kicked off the season back in January when I began a batch of homemade vanilla, destined to become part of my office holiday gifts. As Christmas approached, I baked dozens of cookies for my colleagues—my kitchen looked like a full-blown cookie factory by mid-December. The tree was up, stockings were hung, and our bags were (mostly) packed for the 30-hour trek back to the U.S. to see our family.
Since Jackson spends Christmas Day with his dad, we usually celebrate when we return home. But this year, we decided to celebrate before we left. Let’s just say… we won’t be doing that again. Jackson was so excited he could hardly contain himself—and absolutely couldn’t sleep. He spent most of the night trying to drag me out of bed to open gifts. I told him I wouldn’t budge until the sun came up, so he literally stood at the window, keeping watch for daylight. Cute? Yes. Exhausting? Also yes.
After a very long (but thankfully uneventful) journey, we landed in South Carolina. Jackson headed off to enjoy the holidays with his dad, and I shifted gears to family time. My dad was recovering in rehab after breaking his hip, and though he wasn’t up for visitors beyond a quick hello, he encouraged me to spend time with Aunt Darlene. That’s when the next adventure began.
Aunt Darlene and I made plans to see The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh—a magical treat that we hadn’t experienced together in years. I stopped in to wish Dad a Merry Christmas, then drove to North Carolina to pick up Aunt Darlene. From there, she took the wheel, and off to Pittsburgh we went!
We met up with my dear friend Missy, who had never seen The Nutcracker before. The performance was lovely—though after so much driving, a few of us may have caught a quick nap during the quieter moments! After a few hugs and goodbyes, Missy dashed off to her evening plans, and Aunt Darlene and I headed across the river for dinner at The Melting Pot. We shared a cozy fondue meal with my oldest son and daughter-in-law—too short, but so sweet.
Before wrapping up our whirlwind Christmas tour, we squeezed in visits with both of my brothers and their families. Then, it was time to head south again—though not without one more stop. Aunt Darlene had a Global Entry appointment in Norfolk, so we took care of that en route.
I made it back to South Carolina just in time to ring in the New Year with my dad. The perfect ending? Finally cutting through enough red tape to bring his beloved dog in for a visit. The moment they saw each other was pure joy—his face lit up in a way only a pup can inspire.
This Christmas wasn’t polished or perfect. It was a patchwork of plans, travel, family, and flexibility. But it was real, it was full of love, and it reminded me that sometimes, the best memories come from the unexpected.
Here’s to a new year of more adventures, spontaneous ballet trips, and plenty of cookies.
