Belated Merry Christmas

What a week!! Last day of school, Friday Dec. 19th, finally!! Went straight home to do laundry and pack. We had to be at the airport on Saturday morning at 7:30 am for a 9:00 am flight. Bryan spent the night with us so we just had to pick up my oldest son and his girlfriend. At the airport we find out the flight is delayed until 10:30 am. Oh well at least it's on the way there.
We were headed for Las Vegas. Not my idea of a great vacation destination but since Bryan just turned 21, he was on cloud nine. In his words, Las Vegas is the adults Disneyland!
When we started planning this trip, for Bryan's birthday, my husband made return plane reservations for the redeye at 11:30 pm on Christmas day. WHAT? No way, I said, I want to be back home for Christmas. Four days is more than enough in Las Vegas. Besides, I want to be at my own parish for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! I'm in the choir and we were singing at 10:00 pm mass Christmas Eve and 10:00 am mass Christmas Day. On Christmas day I was to be sacristan at two masses and Eucharistic Minister at one mass. Yes, I definitely needed to be back home by Christmas Eve. So with grumbling from my family, reservations were made for my return flight at 11:00 am on Christmas Eve. After all, I would be spendig time with them until I left and they would be home a day and a half later.
Our time in Las Vegas was mainly spent gambling and eating. Bryan was on a mission to see every casino in Vegas. Big brother did his best to tell him which casino's were nicer since he had been there before, but to no avail. It was his first time and he had to see for himself. I am not much of a gambler so spent most of my time at the penny machines. This earned me the nickname grandma! Nice family, I have!
In Vegas it doesn't even seem like it's Christmas. It's not just the lack of snow, at least by the time we got there. The only decorations are a few real Christmas trees in some of the hotel lobbies but for the most part any Christmas trees around the casinos were a bunch of gold sphere shapes "glued " together in the shape of a tree. It was really unnerving walking through a casino, with all the bright lights, ding - ding from slot machines and heariing Adeste Fideles over the sound system. Bryan mentioned the word surreal several times.
Finally it was Chritmas Eve and I got up early, showered, packed and was ready to go home. My husband checked his phone and there was an automated message from the airline telling us to call the airline and check on the flight. After waiting on hold for fifteen minutes, we decided it was probably a delayed flight and not knowing for how long, I probably should head for the airport. We took the cell phone, still on hold, with us. Just as we got to the cab stand in front of the hotel, the airline reservationist answered. My flight wasn't delayed, it was cancelled. WHAT? The next flight that they could put me on was at 3:15 pm. Today? No, tomorrow. But I need to be back home today!!! Sorry! I ended up on the redeye with the rest of my family.
Back up to the hotel room and unpack. After some tears, a call back to my parish to let them know I needed someone to cover for me as sacristan and Eucharistic minister, I resigned myself to the fact I wouldn't be home for Christmas. I was homesick for my parish, my spiritual family.
Actually, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself, though I tried to be in a good mood for my family. After all, it wasn't their fault. No need to ruin their vacation.
When I finally got home, I was trying to catch up on reading the blogs that I follow. I was reading Adoro's blog for Christmas day and it really hit home. How selfish was I being. Christmas day for our Savior was one of hardship. Who am I to complain? Adoro you really should be a homilist!
We are all home safe and sound. I am thankful.
Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.