My Offseason is now here. Both of our Christmas "stops" today are over, and now we are home enjoying the evening together.
I didn't want to post this in the main Christmas thread, but I have already began to think forward to Christmas 2026.
Christmas this year was most definitely "different". A lot of things went down the last 24-48 hours leading into Christmas that was entirely out of our control.
The first blow dealt was that my brother in law John had to go to the ER on Christmas Eve Eve for a pressure sore that they thought was beginning to get infected. He had to stay overnight. Christmas Eve morning, my Dad woke up SUPER sick, and made the decision to cancel our planned "Christmas" that day, so I didn't get to see my brother or my sister, as nobody came into town once it got cancelled. As the day drew on, my MIL was informed that John was okay enough to go home because he had a good blood culture.
Just as they were getting ready to leave, a nurse came back in and told them that before the discharge could get signed, the Wound Care unit had to have meetings with the Doctor, who was on vacation and could not be reached by phone. They told my MIL that she most likely would have to stay until after Christmas when the "regular" staff came back to work. She ended up raising cane and eventually was able to secure an AMA (Against Medical Advice) discharge.
Our Christmas up at the in-law's house was saved, but there was still the elephant in the room that was going to be Christmas at my Grandma's house.
But Why?: You may ask, since most people on the boards here know that I have a great relationship with my Mom and Grandma.
My Mom got a divorce in September of this year, after her husband had been gone for the previous five years. Since that time, she's had a few dates with a new guy named Frank. I found out on Thanksgiving Day 2025, that Frank was going to be included in the family Christmas morning. I told my Mom that I thought it was "too soon" to start already bringing him in to stuff like that, and Holly agreed with me.
So it was really....Awkward. Which Christmas should never, ever, be, and never will be again.
So that leads me to this Offseason. Tomorrow there will be 364 days until CHRISTMAS 2026. Christmas 2026 is going to be OUR YEAR. It's going to be our year to plan everything to end up how Holly and I want it for the babies. And I'm going to start putting a little away every week next year just for that purpose. Holly has already asked for a second Christmas tree to put in our living room next year. And we are obviously going to have to buy more presents for Jason since he will be big enough to enjoy Christmas.
I don't think I've ever started looking forward to Next Year's Christmas while the current year is still winding down. But I am incredibly motivated, and I think that's going to make it more fun as more and more things come together as the year goes on. I've set an ambitious goal for myself and am hoping to have all the money and everything saved away by the time we reach Leon Day. Folks, I'm really, really excited to try and do this, and at 41 years old, soon to be 42 years old, with small children, it is time to pick up the mantle and be the Dad/Husband who makes that Christmas happen. My loving wife helps too. We've got this!
Thanks for the long read! I wanted to get this off my chest ever since stuff started "breaking down" about 3 days ago!
