Where Have They Gone?
Where have they gone?
Why, just yesterday they were here
There was laughter
And games and hugs and bedtime stories
Family meals
School plays
Trips to the beach
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the new year
Special times
Why, just yesterday my mother held me in her arms
While an aunt made faces
And funny sounds
Holidays
We came together
Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins
Yes, the cousins
All sizes, all shapes
Boys and girls alike
Playing in the old barn
Doing things we knew we shouldn’t
Carefree
Life was forever
Lightning bugs, hide-and-seek, and tag
Presents, trees, and eggnog
Bedtime stories
Sleigh bells
Santa
The laughter
The turkeys and hams and holiday treats
But…
Where have they gone?
What’ll I do?
My grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins
It’s almost Christmas
…and they’re no longer here.
Been playin’ the same song. However, that was one cute toddler! Rock on with them dimples!
Really Lee you should take those fab photos and word and make a nice coffee table book !
Where have they gone ?
They are right here in the faces of your children and grand children
With hugs and kisses
The key is to remain a kid. Hold on to the childlike thoughts and joys of Christmas and share it with others you love.
So true, Lee. What a poignant post. My husband and I don’t have children, so there aren’t even any little ones to pass it on to. I suppose that’s what his nieces and nephews are for.
This one got to me. When my dad died (just before Christmas several years ago) the feeling of being bereft, an orphan, was made even worse by the season. Comes back a little bit every year. Merry Christmas, Lee.
Jackie
This is a tear jerker for me. Holidays are definitely a bit quieter these days. Thanks for such a heartfelt post.
Merry Christmas to you, Lee.
Tereasa
Ditto here except for the three kids and only one grandchild. But Christmas is alwasy special.
Wow. This one really hit home. Christmas, it seems, really is for the kids, and once we pass that stage, nothing is ever the same. Even so, we do our best to re-create Christmas for our own kids, and then for our grandkids if we’re lucky.
So the good news is, Christmas recycles itself every generation; the bad news is, we can only have it as kids once.
But sometimes that’s not a bad thing.
Cheers to you, Lee.
Beth
Me, too.