In the past, “I’ll be Home for Christmas” was one of the Christmas songs that would often sadden me, whenever I heard it, for I was one of those people who have always had an occupation that required me to be on duty when most others were able to take time off. During my 35 ½ years of working for the federal government, both in and out of uniform, the times that I was home for Christmas could be counted on one hand. Either I was out of the country, away from my home state or I was required to work Christmas Day.
The first time this season that I heard “I’ll be Home for Christmas”, I realize that I will really be home for Christmas from now on. I am retired from the job world and am enjoying being a full time husband to my wonderful wife Laura, and a full time dad to Katie, my step-daughter, who is such a joy and a challenge.
With Laura and Katie in my life, I actually now live in a home for the first time since leaving my parents home in 1970 to go into the Navy. There have been a few barracks, apartments and houses that I lived in between 1970 – 2009, but none of them would have been considered a home.
A home is more than the four walls and the stuff inside of it, a home is a place of love, friendship, joy, happiness, laughter that outshines the occasional growing pains that come with people sharing the same space.
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