The Fisch Tank: Matthew

Monday, February 1, 2010

Matthew

January has come and gone. In the blink of an eye the new year has begun. Now is when I shift my own thoughts from the cold romance of winter to that of hearts and flowers, valentines and chocolates. Thoughts of love, family, friends old and new.

There is also the tiny gleam of spring on the horizon. Severely out of reach, but it's there. The sun feels warmer even when the temps are at extreme lows. Daylight lasts just a bit longer. Giving us a few more minutes to see the sun before it hides below the horizon.

Every now and then I drive by a house with it's Christmas lights still ablaze. I used to make comments like,

'It's over people! Take them down!'.

But this year I came to an understanding.

They are not left up because the home owners are lazy.

They are not left up because they are waiting for the warm days of spring to take them down.

They are waiting for someone to come home.

My sister has been waiting for someone to come home.

She has held on to her thankfulness from Thanksgiving.

She has saved her Christmas cheer,

and she has waited to ring in the New Year.

She has neatly wrapped her joy, and holiday spirit under the tree. Tucked it safely away .

She put it all in slow motion so she can save it for her son, who was not here to celebrate.

Anxiously they waited for the end of January beginning of February to celebrate the holidays with all it's glory of love, family, laughter, smiles and memories. All these holidays and the emotion that comes with them are now put into fast forward, all to be experienced in 10 short days.

Matt just finished his recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina.

We had the joy of having dinner with Matt last night. It was a gathering that I enjoyed and was glad to be a part of. He is here for a very short week and a half, and I felt privileged to share an evening of love, laughter and pride.