Christmas or just another day?

Eleven days out and still December 25 seems like just another day.

I look around at friends (those who haven't rushed back to the States to be with their families) and I see gifts from family (not in Korea) around their tree and more than just a helpless Charlie Brown tree.

How is it Christmas without family? I know presents shouldn't be a big deal, and don't get me wrong, they're not, but there's not one under the tree. There hasn't been for three years. There's not a Christmas card from a family member anywhere. There hasn't been for four years.

I know people say I have Matt and that should be enough. Or, we haven't been married long enough to fully detach from our families for the holidays- quite frankly- I hope we never get to that point.

Christmas right now is looking like just another typical day off from work. The sun rises, the sun sets- just another day.

Maybe the real reason Ebeneezer Scrooge was so unhappy wasn't because he was a crotchety old man- maybe it was because of a secret Mr. Dickens was hiding from us- he had family on another continent.