The Thirteenth Day...

l to r: Tony, his daughter Amber, my mom in the white, Grandma, Daquan and Auntie

...a Christmas Day memory

I could go back in time, but I'd much rather love on the Christmas of 2012. I had one of the best Christmases ever since childhood this past December.

Firstly, It was one of the few Christmases I actually was excited for. I don't know why. I normally shrug at holidays. Definitely not a fan of commercial days based on religious/historical inaccuracy or ritual. Anyway...I normally let my mom do her thing, go see our family and not care if I'm riding shotgun or not. This time was different.

For one, my Auntie (in the purple) would be visiting and staying a week with us. She'd moved down to NC in September. Also, my cousin Tisha and her family would be up from SC.

Daquan, Amber, Tisha and her husband, Tony

I was also able to give my godson Syre a cool Christmas. I got him a Transformer (Bumblebee, my favorite as well as his) and he loved it. I had fun playing Santa to my sister's "stepson" and my niece (Joy's daughter) Chloe. Joy and I also "put in" and gave my mom a Kindle Fire.

We went to Mt. Vernon and visited my grandmother ON Christmas AND the day after. The day after, because that's when my uncle and his family usually come through.

Uncle Kenny

His wife (center) and his baby girl Megan (with the silly face) and Kaitlyn

We had a ball. We ate, laughed, chilled. I saw my father (he has those pics) and I could say that it was the first time since my grandmother passed that I was in her home without her there for the holidays. It was weird to see his girlfriend at the stove preparing food...like my grandmother did. Chile, don't get me started. LOL

We also had a great Thanksgiving. We went down to Mt. Vernon and us cousins cut up. I have to share this pic, because it's the four of us that grew up in the same house for so many years. So much so...we're not cousins anymore. We're brothers and sisters. Seeing these folks made my year!

My sister and I flanked by our "brothers"...Arthur (BOOBIE) on your left and Damyan on your right

It was a marvelous holiday and I'll cherish it forever.