As Christmas dinner unfolded, each shared laugh and exchanged glance around the table felt like a testament to my sister, Jackie’s, enduring spirit. Her philosophy had always been simple yet profound: to nurture the bonds of family and friendship with unwavering kindness and caring. It was Jackie who reminded me always that connections, like the finest tapestry, are crafted with patience and love.

Gathered around the table, as we passed around dishes filled with delicacies which guests had also contributed, I realized how each recipe was more than just a meal; they were stories, memories, pieces of our collective history. The platter full of charcuterie Juan and Angelica provided, the savory aroma of the turkey, the sweet tang of the Bourbon cranberry sauce made by Tamara, the aromatic carrots Laura contributed and the delicate miso infused broccoli from my daughter and her partner, each had a story to tell, a memory to evoke.

Unbeknownst to me, Tim, my daughter’s partner, had decided the meal would not be complete without Jackie’s mashed potatoes and arrived with a casserole dish he’d baked up using her recipe. It was a thoughtful and caring gesture that reflected how Jackie, in her natural way, left her mark on each of us at the table. Her absence was palpable, yet her presence was equally so. Through our shared meal and rituals, her laughter seemed to echo, her smile appeared to light up the room, and her warmth seemed to embrace us all.

And still, amidst the laughter and chatter, the joy and aromas, there was a moment when, as I looked around the table I’d decorated with such loving care and gazed upon the faces of our guests aglow in the twinkling lights, my heart gave a tiny tug on the ribbon of memory that wound its way through Christmases past. Without missing a beat, I felt the ache of loss stirring.. And then, in the next beat, with the gentleness of angel’s wings brushing against my cheek, I heard my sister’s voice whispering in my ear, “Remember me but do not stay tied up in memory.”

Smiling as I passed the gravy, my heart flooded with gratitude. Gratitude for the past that shaped us, for the present that holds us together, and for the future that awaits, filled with the promise of continued connection, love, and shared joy.

May the New Year unfold in a tapestry of joy, woven with threads of love, laughter, and endless possibilities.