How’s everyone feeling this holiday season?

I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I’m taking it all in as much as possible. At this moment, I’d like to thank the infamous Facebook Memory for popping up photos of my duo from the past decade, most especially at this time.

They were small; I was new to social media, as well as being new at doing life solo. Social media served as my vehicle of connection as well as documenting the shenanigans and happenings of my two little people.

Fast forward to present day and while I still share accomplishments of the two people who make me most proud in my life, it’s not exactly the same (as it was then). These memories also have a profound way of reminding me how fast time seems to be passing.

Their sweet chubby faces now thinned out and resembling their parents more than ever before. Voices changed, hands adult sized and bedrooms their new lair … growing up. Oh sure, they still humor me and give hugs and kisses before leaving the house or heading to bed, but the fact remains time continues to march on.

So as I ponder the holiday season question to you dear readers, I can’t help but wonder if you too live this time of “how does it happen so fast?”

In truth I feel a bit like a broken record, as I’m pretty certain I’ve penned this piece a time before again and again and again; I’m just not the best with this growing up thing.

Case in point: there are no more Christmas lists helping to guide me through my shopping. Nope, those days are gone. My daughter even mentioned this just last week, the idea of needing to make her list.

I started shopping for she and her brother a few weeks back, so with hopes that maybe I’d scored something she was hoping for I inquired, “What is it you want for Christmas this year sis?”

Hanging on with hope as I waited her reply, she quickly chimed back: “I have no idea.”

This was then followed by laughter on both of our parts. Me then acknowledging this was a good problem to have and she in agreement.

It would seem that after years and years of speaking of, we don’t “need” anything, we have finally found ourselves in a place of when looking for ideas on things we might like we’ve come up empty.

I love this problem, if being completely honest.

For the first time in my adult life I truly can’t think of anything which will make me more happy this holiday season than to be with my duo, our family and our friends. So much blessing in so much simpleness. No longer does my head fill with things which might be nice. I just seem to have everything I could have ever wanted.

This past week and the Thanksgiving holiday seemed to give me a good glimpse of this. Preparing for a family meal and spending time together – morning, noon and night – was completely magical. On a few occasions, I even found myself saying to my partner (all four of our kids under the same roof) that it felt like Christmas already. The kids of course clueless as they went about their individual, as well as collective business.

Yet now as I look at each of them, I recognize what is to come. We are indeed on the other side of the hill, so to speak. Half are already off doing life the way they see fit, with the other half (my two) not too far behind them.

So as the days begin to tick by, I hope each of you find yourself in such a wonderful place of contentment without a need for anything material. If not now, then hopefully not too far off.

For those whose eyes have caught this, still making trips to Santa and chasing down list items, live in those moments; they are indeed fleeting.

Here’s to the final 31 days of 2021 being just as or more memorable than each of the days which came before it. It truly is a wonderful life.

Teresa Hammond is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. She may be reached at thammond@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.