Senior Moments
By Charles P. Eberson
As we finally emerge from the holiday season, I can breathe a sigh of relief. There is little doubt that along with the good feelings that come with the major holidays there is often the emotional baggage that comes along with them.
Our family’s past history ensures that no major holiday approaches without us feeling some trepidation so when these holidays pass, the feeling is like being plucked out of a turbulent sea to safety. Some years ago, our family suffered a tragic loss on July 4th. Our plans for a traditional celebration of barbeque, get togethers and fireworks were shattered and every July 4th thereafter carries with it a reminder of past events. A few years ago, on December 25, Christmas Day, I was rushed to the ER and spent the next ten days in Intensive Care watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks from my hospital bed.
On a lighter note, a few years later when we were celebrating Thanksgiving at our son’s house which was filled with extended family, the water system failed. No water for cooking, cleaning and yes, no water for the toilets. Panic ensued on many levels. Fortunately, a neighbor who we hardly knew was not going to be home for the holiday and gave us the keys to her house from which to get water. I started off filling a cooler with water from her tub but found it too cumbersome to carry from house to house and I was soaking myself with the sloshing after just a couple runs. I switched to various size cooking pots making repeated runs back and forth like Gunga Din, the water boy. Every flush of a toilet necessitated another run for water. I was slowly wearing a path in the lawn. Shockingly, a repair man came over on this Thanksgiving Day and managed to repair the issue before dinner even started. Like they say, not all heroes wear capes.
This year, not to be outdone by Thanksgiving’s past, our son’s septic tank decided to back up into the house on Christmas Eve. Aside from our poor son having to perform the most unsavory task of cleaning up the, shall we say, material, all water usage had to be stopped. Another capeless crusader was going to arrive the day after Christmas to assess the issue. Christmas morning with family and friends for the annual brunch had to be rescheduled for the next day when the “water issue” was successfully dealt with.
Of course, New Year’s Eve was like none other in my lifetime with a subdued evening at home watching the ball drop in an empty New York Times Square. It is time to just relax, recharge, look ahead with cautious optimism and wait for the Amazon bill to thump onto my doorstep. Now, if only I can navigate through Valentine’s Day with a shred of my dignity intact.
Charles Eberson has been in the newspaper business for over 25 years. He has worked as a writer, advertising executive, circulation manager and photographer. His photography can be viewed at charles-eberson.fineartamerica.com
