<p>I want to relate the gift that my wife and her four sisters gave to their 80 year old parents. They organized a special dinner at a restaurant with just the five daughters and the parents. No spouses and no children or grandchildren. They all went in one large SUV and had a wonderful dinner at a nice restaurant. Then they drove through the old neighborhood where the family had lived. The area is known for its Christmas Tree lane where the tall fir trees on their old street have lights strung every December. Then the daughter that was driving drove right up the driveway of their old house that they lived in for forty years. The parents were wondering what was going on. Little did they know that the daughters had planned this detour and had arranged witht the family that lived there that they would surprise their parents with a trip to the house where all of them had grown up in. The house was decorated and had candles lit through out the house. It is a special house as it was built in 1908 by William Howard Taft’s sister. The family spent over an hour touring the house and finding out the family that is now there is enjoying bringing up their children in this house. The parents stated that this was one of the most memorable days that they had ever spent with their children and could not have asked for anything better for Christmas. </p>
<p>So remember in 2009 to spend time with your parents. Whether you are off at college and you just send a quick text back to your Mom or if you are in middle age and have a parent in a nursing home. Time is fleeting and you can never get it back. Make the best use of your time and spend it with someone you love. </p>
<p>Redondo, great post. I recently flew cross country for my Mom’s 75th birthday. It was not convenient for me with my obligations at home and work but she was soo happy to have me there. All day when anyone would call she would tell them, “DD is visiting from California” as if I had come from another planet.<br>
On Christmas Day I had my son call his grandmother. We were in the car and I could hear her happy chirping on the other end. I reminded both of my kids how much it means to a grandparent to hear from them and how little it costs them to take the time to call.</p>
<p>ebeeee, I did the same for my Mom’s 75th Birthday.
For the first time in 24 years of married life, I reserved a single ticket to India without my hubby or my DS. I took my parents and my sis on a vacation package to a hill station called Ooty. We spent 5 days there just my parents, me, and my sis… it was like the old days when we were kids and traveled with our parents. </p>
<p>My hubby and DS were a little upset at me going on my own but they got over it. My parents, my sis, and I will cherish these memories for a long time to come.</p>
<p>On my next visit, I hope to bring my family and my parents along to see Hong Kong.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reminder, Redondo Dave. I am currently 1000 miles from home, staying with my Dad while my mom is in the hospital. She has been battling ovarian cancer for 5 years, and was doing pretty well, but for the past few months was getter weaker/more tired and 2 weeks ago a crisis required a call to 911. She’s been in the hospital since, with 2 major abdominal surgeries - lots of pain, etc. The goal is to get her strong enough to come home, but we don’t know how much time we’ll have when she gets home since it looks like she’s taken all the chemo her body can stand. DH, DD & DS were here with me over Christmas, but they have returned home and moved on to our traditional Xmas/New Year’s ski trip. They are having a good time, and I am so jealous that I can’t be there. But we will have many more years of ski trips, and I’m sure this is some of the last time I will spend with my Mom. I know Dad needs the help, and time with Mom is limited. So it is important that I be here, and in the long run I know I’ll be glad I stayed.</p>
<p>But right now I’m going to go call the ski condo and hear from some happy people having fun!</p>
<p>Years ago, I happened to spend an impromtu afternoon with my 76 year old Dad driving through the Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia, sans my kids and husband. We did this as a family occasionally on Sunday afternoons while growing up. I had no idea how much it meant to him until a dear friend of his related to me later that it meant the world to him to spend that kind of uninterrupted time with one of his children. I was so surprised to hear this–yes, Redondo, you are so right. Time with loved ones is a most treasured gift.</p>