Hey Grant, thanks for all of your transparency over the year. I've been following you since you lost your job and boy it's been a year I think for everybody. All holidays are hard for me, I live in Dallas but I'm from Portland. My family, (2 brothers and sister) are in Portland, so it's me and my dog 🐕. I'm not fond of Dallas and to be honest I'm hoping to move home at some point in the very best future. My parents are both in heaven, the hard part are holidays and birthdays, they were a big deal to my parents so they rattled pots and Pans in the kitchen but the door was always open to our friends. I'll be ok just lonely for a few days. I'll bounce back. The best thing is the Ducks are playing well and I hope they win it all.
My first Christmas without my dad was weird and hard and beautiful all at the same time. My mom flew out to me in Seattle, instead of me flying home, and we did Christmas out there, with some traditions the same (the specific order of when we watch certain movies) and some new and different (spam musubi and loco moco for Christmas dinner. We cried a lot and laughed a lot. There’s a spam ornament on our tree now in honor of that Christmas. Every year since, we have marveled at how fast opening presents goes, since we don’t have to wait for dad to get un-distracted by each of his gifts. Mom and I usually still send each other pictures of things I would have bought for him. There will always be grief and joy mixed in for me, but I love Christmas all the same.
Reading this brought me a lot of peace and comfort. I love the mixing of the new and old traditions. There's something deeply human about that I think. Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas.
Hi Grant☺️. Yes, from my experience, as well, it is always both. As my mom passed, she took away with her our most loved food traditions, that I miss very much. My sisters and I carry on her tradition, mostly because we like feeling her near by like this. Every time some cookies that I bake are extraordinary,or food that I know she cooked better tastes almost like hers, I use to say "mom made them for me". I hope you know you are not alone in your grief. My best friend told me something that I remember daily:" when you miss your parents(I lost both of them ) look in the mirror. They are always a part of you."
Wishing you all peace for Christmas, and sending love to all.
I love that. Those traditions seems important and are important to me. I am so glad my brother is making waffles. It's a small thing, but keeps my dad in the room. We talk about him often too. "Dad would know what to do", "Dad would have done it this way", "Dad would have liked hearing this".
Oh , and I hope you all have a happy holiday despite your loss, the bitter and the sweet. I love that your brother is making the waffles and continuing that tradition. You seem to have a very loving family. I love your moms Xmas tree… I’ve learned so much about your Alaskan Culture this year and appreciate all that you’ve shared here. You are a fine writer Grant, a man of many talents.. we all enjoy what you have created here and it’s wonderful that it has supported you in your time of need. That’s a good give and take! Merry Xmas Grant🎄
Thank you. I think it will be bittersweet, but that sums up this whole year for us. I'm glad you enjoy what I share. It helps me feel less alone, and that has been so important to me during this time. Merry Christmas to you as well. 😊
Hi Grant , I think this Christmas is going to open a new chapter for you and your family into how the future celebrations will be like not having your dad physically, but still help you realize how much he is still part of your celebrations through talking about him and doing things he loved doing.
As for me I decided to celebrate Christmas holiday alone this year just to try something new out for when I move countries away but will still do the new year with my family.
Hi Grant, in Vietnam (where Mom is from) there are a lot of food traditions centered around death. A "death anniversary party" is held every year to remember and feed the deceased relative. On an altar usually some fruits are left out near a picture of the loved one with the same idea in mind. I hope you have a great Christmas this year.
Hi Zoungy. Those traditions are meaningful. It's something I feel like I'm missing. My family isn't religious and doesn't have other "built in" traditions around death. It's more of trying to figure it out as we go.
While the newsletter says I’m a free subscriber, I am a paid subscriber I believe. I paid $90 a few days ago. I have been getting messages from Substack if that means I’m subscribed. Please let me know, as I wanted to support you so I chose the $90 option. Thanks Grant
Hi Margaret! Thank you for the support. It means so much. You are listed as a free subscriber on my end. Have you been charged by Substack? If not, maybe try to subscribe again: https://www.grantmagdanz.com/subscribe
If you have any issues, please email me at grant@grantmagdanz.com and we can sort it out.
Thanks Grant, I’ll check, I am getting lots of Substack notifications and articles etc.. if that means anything, but let me check and see if I was charged.
Hey Grant, thanks for all of your transparency over the year. I've been following you since you lost your job and boy it's been a year I think for everybody. All holidays are hard for me, I live in Dallas but I'm from Portland. My family, (2 brothers and sister) are in Portland, so it's me and my dog 🐕. I'm not fond of Dallas and to be honest I'm hoping to move home at some point in the very best future. My parents are both in heaven, the hard part are holidays and birthdays, they were a big deal to my parents so they rattled pots and Pans in the kitchen but the door was always open to our friends. I'll be ok just lonely for a few days. I'll bounce back. The best thing is the Ducks are playing well and I hope they win it all.
Thanks again for being you!
L
Hi Louie. Thanks for the note. Hang in there. Glad the Ducks are playing well :)
My first Christmas without my dad was weird and hard and beautiful all at the same time. My mom flew out to me in Seattle, instead of me flying home, and we did Christmas out there, with some traditions the same (the specific order of when we watch certain movies) and some new and different (spam musubi and loco moco for Christmas dinner. We cried a lot and laughed a lot. There’s a spam ornament on our tree now in honor of that Christmas. Every year since, we have marveled at how fast opening presents goes, since we don’t have to wait for dad to get un-distracted by each of his gifts. Mom and I usually still send each other pictures of things I would have bought for him. There will always be grief and joy mixed in for me, but I love Christmas all the same.
Reading this brought me a lot of peace and comfort. I love the mixing of the new and old traditions. There's something deeply human about that I think. Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas.
Hi Grant☺️. Yes, from my experience, as well, it is always both. As my mom passed, she took away with her our most loved food traditions, that I miss very much. My sisters and I carry on her tradition, mostly because we like feeling her near by like this. Every time some cookies that I bake are extraordinary,or food that I know she cooked better tastes almost like hers, I use to say "mom made them for me". I hope you know you are not alone in your grief. My best friend told me something that I remember daily:" when you miss your parents(I lost both of them ) look in the mirror. They are always a part of you."
Wishing you all peace for Christmas, and sending love to all.
I love that. Those traditions seems important and are important to me. I am so glad my brother is making waffles. It's a small thing, but keeps my dad in the room. We talk about him often too. "Dad would know what to do", "Dad would have done it this way", "Dad would have liked hearing this".
Merry Christmas and thank you for sharing.
Oh , and I hope you all have a happy holiday despite your loss, the bitter and the sweet. I love that your brother is making the waffles and continuing that tradition. You seem to have a very loving family. I love your moms Xmas tree… I’ve learned so much about your Alaskan Culture this year and appreciate all that you’ve shared here. You are a fine writer Grant, a man of many talents.. we all enjoy what you have created here and it’s wonderful that it has supported you in your time of need. That’s a good give and take! Merry Xmas Grant🎄
Thank you. I think it will be bittersweet, but that sums up this whole year for us. I'm glad you enjoy what I share. It helps me feel less alone, and that has been so important to me during this time. Merry Christmas to you as well. 😊
Every best wish for this Christmas and the New Year, Grant. I'm grateful for all that you have shared over the past year.
Thank you Phil. It means a lot
Hi Grant , I think this Christmas is going to open a new chapter for you and your family into how the future celebrations will be like not having your dad physically, but still help you realize how much he is still part of your celebrations through talking about him and doing things he loved doing.
As for me I decided to celebrate Christmas holiday alone this year just to try something new out for when I move countries away but will still do the new year with my family.
Have a great Christmas ahead , have fun.
Hi Liz. It is a new chapter in our lives. I hope you have a great Christmas. It can be nice to have some peace and quiet.
Hi Grant, in Vietnam (where Mom is from) there are a lot of food traditions centered around death. A "death anniversary party" is held every year to remember and feed the deceased relative. On an altar usually some fruits are left out near a picture of the loved one with the same idea in mind. I hope you have a great Christmas this year.
Hi Zoungy. Those traditions are meaningful. It's something I feel like I'm missing. My family isn't religious and doesn't have other "built in" traditions around death. It's more of trying to figure it out as we go.
I hope you have a great Christmas as well.
While the newsletter says I’m a free subscriber, I am a paid subscriber I believe. I paid $90 a few days ago. I have been getting messages from Substack if that means I’m subscribed. Please let me know, as I wanted to support you so I chose the $90 option. Thanks Grant
Hi Margaret! Thank you for the support. It means so much. You are listed as a free subscriber on my end. Have you been charged by Substack? If not, maybe try to subscribe again: https://www.grantmagdanz.com/subscribe
If you have any issues, please email me at grant@grantmagdanz.com and we can sort it out.
Thanks Grant, I’ll check, I am getting lots of Substack notifications and articles etc.. if that means anything, but let me check and see if I was charged.