Red Dahlia by Cathy Ulrich
I love the Holidays
The decorations,
The music,
The cold weather,
The food,
The friends,
The family.
Even the cliche
That says:
People are kinder,
Softer, and more selfless.
Even if it were better
If we behaved this way
All year ‘round.
My Mother, Cherie
Taught me to love them
With her childlike delight,
Her collection of Nativities,
Her beautiful gifts,
And her German Chocolate Cake.
I miss you more,
this time of year, Mom.
But now, I can feel the warmth
coming from you across the void,
And send love back.
And that is a great Christmas gift.
Love,
Cathy
LargeSelf 
I understand, I miss my mom too. Beautiful words! Happy Belated Thanksgiving! I grew up in New York so I celebrate it here in Sicily with my family, too bad though that we don’t get sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. That is a gorgeous Dahlia!
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Thank you, magentmama. Yes, I miss her, but the pain is not there anymore. Yes, I bet sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce is scarce in Sicily! But you guys do that wonderful seafood dinner on Christmas Eve! I’ve read about but have never experienced it! Thanks for the follow and for stopping by today!
Cathy
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Sending love and warm hugs. I think something about this time of the year that makes us miss loved ones and especially moms
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Thank you, Boomie. I think so, too. My mom loved the holidays and I think of her often this time of year.
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Beautiful – I miss my mom all the time–but more at this time of year–she always made Christmas so special for everyone else
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My mom did too. Christmas was a really big deal in our home when I was growing up, thanks to my mom. And like you, LouAnn, I miss her all the time, but I find myself really thinking her this time of year. Hope your holiday season is a good one.
Cathy
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Moms give us many gifts. I like how people are nicer around the holidays, I suppose it’s too much to expect people to be like that all the time but we can always hope, right?
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Yes, we can hope, Weebs! Oh, and I love New York during the holidays! Peter is from southern Connecticut and when his parents were living, we would visit them during the holidays and would take the train in for a day to the city. Rockefeller Center, Barney’s, Macy’s – as show and dinner. One time, we decided to stop by Orso without reservations just to see if we could get a table and we did! What a fantastic meal! A favorite holiday memory.
Hugs,
Cathy
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You love your mother, that is obvious.
I am happy for you that your mother deserves your love and I am proud of you for sharing this wonderful poem.
Regards,
Daan
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Daan,
Thank you so much for your kind words here. Yes, I do love my mother very much. I’m so glad to have the chance to get to know you.
Cathy
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lovely.. beautiful
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Thank you, Audra.
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I did not start enjoying, or actually loathing the holiday season much less, until around age 40. At holiday-time when I was a kid, my mother, a controlling perfectionist, was at her looniest. It was the time of year that I made myself scarce to escape her propensity to fly off the handle. I miss her but I’ll never miss all the tension that filled the air. After our mother made her exit, my sister took it upon herself to run Xmas season in our family. She’s a mere one hundred million times more mellow than our mom and has the capacity to laugh when the inevitable snafu happens — as it always does.
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V,
Yes, I think the holidays can be especially challenging for those who have to have everything perfect. It ends up making the season stressful for everyone and something to just “get through.” I’m glad your sister has been able to make smooth out the bumps and make the season more fun for you and your family. She sounds wise. Hope your holidays are peaceful this year.
Cathy
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Hey, “get through this” is my holiday season motto! Of course, waiting for me on the other side is bleak winter weather that could last a frozen solid two to three months. Joy.
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Yes, the city can be really cold! Do you get away to California to see family, V?
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Yes, Cathy, that’s what I do every year. By about the fourth day of my getaway, I need a fix of New York so badly I’m sweating beads of soot and hallucinating Empire State Buildings
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Love it! My mom retired and moved far away this spring, so this is the first time in my life that we will be apart at Christmas. But at least we can still stay in touch over the phone. That’s something.
Gorgeous photo, btw! 🙂
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Jennifer,
I hope your Christmas is joyful even though you’ll be apart from your mom. I do communicate with my mom, now, but I still miss her on the physical plane. We visit in my dreams, maybe an interdimensional Skype? 🙂
Thank you, Jennifer.
Cathy
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How bittersweet. Your mom would be moved to tears. I was.
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Robin,
Thank you. It is bittersweet, but I feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful mother.
Cathy
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I’m afraid I am staring at the end with my folks. I hate this. I’ve been in denial that anything would happen to them.
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Robin,
Denial is such a natural response. But in some ways it helps, too. I guess the best advice I could give would be to enjoy each moment with them and be present with them as much as possible. I suspect you already do.
Cathy
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I try . . . but it is hard with my mom’s Alzheimer’s. It isn’t like being with her anymore.
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I’m so sorry. It’s so hard to watch. My parents didn’t suffer from that, but I know so many friends and clients who have. It’s such a helpless feeling.
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Beautiful poem.
Do you ever try to recreate the German Chocolate Cake she used to make?
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Vyv,
I have made it! I have my mom’s recipe and my sister often makes that German Chocolate Cake during the holidays. It’s really delicious with a coconut/pecan/custard icing! I think my mom found the recipe many years ago in the newspaper. Maybe I’ll make it this year and post it on my other blog!
Cathy
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Awesome! Whaaa?! You have another blog that includes baking?! LINK ME 😀 …please 😛
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Hi Vyv,
My other blog, which I actually don’t post on a lot is cathyulrich.com There are a few foodie things – you might really like the dutch baby pancake! Thanks for asking!
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I love the holidays so much… The music, lights, candles and coziness that comes with the cold and dark of the season. It hasn’t always been this way, though. Letting go of ancient childhood stories and allowing that old energy to move on through has transformed the holidays into something I absolutely cherish! Thank you for your beautiful poem!
Love you, Cathy!
XOXO
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Yes! Now we get to make up our own stories and holiday traditions! What a powerful way of creating joy. Thank you, Crystal. Love and hugs, Cathy
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My mum turns 84 Dec. 5th, and I know exactly how you feel in your love of your mum. The best times are when she talks of her childhood especially around this time of year! It is precious memories and your beautiful poem is a perfect touch! Thanks for sharing!
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LDL,
Thank you so much. I’m so glad you cherish your mom and get to spend time with her. Hope her birthday next week is wonderful!
Cathy
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Thank you Cathy 🙂
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This made me smile. Thanks for sharing this lovely poem.
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Thank you so much! I’m so glad it spoke to you.
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