Christmas Move

“Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

My sister, husband Trevor, and I have been in the process of moving to Huntington Beach.  We were rushing to get the boxes unpacked for four days, so we could get the apartment decorated for Christmas.  

It happened, finally.  Here is the result.

After we got the tree up, my sister and I were taking the ornaments that broke during the move to the trash dumpster.  I was also going to lay a few ornaments in a bag that were perfectly fine near the trash eump, for anyone who would want them.  Before we got there, my sister took a nasty fall into the cement.

Just before Thanksgiving, she'd fallen and broke her wrist, and finally had the cast removed on November 28th.  Well, I happened to turn around and watch my sister fall.  I always walk a few feet ahead of her, because she walks slower than me, and I always stop to turn around so she can catch up.  I did this, and I watched her fall over onto her face, literally.  Her face bounced off the cement and hit a second time.  So, I put my stuff down and went to her.

I asked her if she was ok.  She didn't respond, but lifted her head.  I asked her to look at me because I was afraid she'd broken her nose or her teeth.  She really hit the pavement hard.  It scared me so much.  Her teeth looked fine and her nose wasn't bleeding so I asked her to let me help her up.

She wouldn't let me.  

I asked her if she needed me to get Trevor and she said yes and she wanted me to bring a chair.  I kicked my furry slippers off, and ran back to the apartment.  Trevor was asleep, and I was pleading for him to wake up, "Trevor wake up.  Trevor!!!  Wake up.  Jeri fell and needs help."

He got up fast and went to get her and I grabbed a chair and ran with it to her.  She was sitting on the ground, and it appeared she was in pain, and almost in tears.  Trevor helped Jeri stand, she used the chair for leverage, and we walked back to the apartment.  Her lip was bleeding and swelling.

So, she broke her glasses and her lip was busted.  She is ok, but I was very scared.  To be honest, I am glad I am back in California, for reasons like this.  My family needs me.  If I wasn't there, my sister may have fallen and nobody was there to help her.  My sister is my older sister and as I get older, I see my siblings getting older.  

My dad passed away at 59.  I have one deceased sister.  My brother has had a heart attack.  My oldest sister falls.  We don't know how much longer we have left and time is short.  If my sister only has 3 more years (Universe forbid), at least I get to spend the next 1,095 days with her.  

Christmas time has been important in both hers and my life.  It is a time for family.  It shouldn't just be 1 day of the year.  So, here I am, with my sister, the one who taught me how to tie my shoes, pronounce words properly, use a toilet, read, and all kinds of other things.  Things will be fine.

Merry Christmas.