Weekly Writing Challenge – Ghosts of December 23rds Past

The December 23rd of the past I write of is December 23rd of 1996. That was the last time my family was whole. We were 84 days into the final 99 days of my younger brother’s short life. Prolonged mysterious health issues blossomed into a cancer diagnosis on October 1st of that year and the following days were progressively worse as his life ebbed away.

My family was small, only my father, mother, my brother Kevin, and I. We were your average family, with some aunts and uncles, one grandfather and grandmother remaining. Two grandparents had passed by this time, but it is not such a foreign cocnept for an older member of your family to die. My brother was young, only 29 that year.

My brother, son and I.

This was my full bore introduction to Cancer, the disease that would eventually claim not only my brother, but father, mother and too many other family members in the following 14 years. That December 23rd was unlike any other I had ever known. My wife is a realist, having lost her father seven years before to this horrid disease. She tried to prepare me for the coming reality. My brother was going to die, that was very clear two days before Christmas. He was barely a shell of his former gregarious, fun-loving self.

I am a man of faith and always truly believe if God has a purpose for healing anything is possible. But, as I said this was also my first personal experience with the disease. I can remember earlier on when the idea first was shared he might have Cancer I asked him about his salvation. I knew he was, but to me it was something that needs to be uttered and clear. I told him that was the most important thing and we would handle all the rest.

Dad and me the day my brother was born.

Three years later I experienced the first December 23rd without my father. He died in October due to complications from lung Cancer. Eleven years after that was the first without my mom. December 23rd is not really a significant day in the scheme of life, other than it is part of the run-up to Christmas. But those when I had all my family are more precious now than they might have otherwise been. This is what I remember about December 23rd.

Other WWC-Ghosts responses:

1. Weekly Writing Challenge Response (December 23rds) | starlightfire
2. This time last year… | Home’s Cool!
3. As you grow older, your Christmas list gets smaller; the things you really want for the holidays can’t be bought | Never Stationary
4. A Year Ago Today | Broken Light: A Photography Collective
5. Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past | hippiebitch420
6. Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of Years Past | A mom’s blog
7. A Theeivening to remember | booksdragonsanddietcoke
8. Recruiting Minors Insults My Intelligence | Bumblepuppies
9. Christmas B & E | Fish Of Gold
10. The Year I Turned 18 and Met the Messiah | jackiefoxdotnet
11. Family Ghosts on Roots Day | humblegenealogy
12. ‘tis three days before christmas | Musings of a Random Mind
13. Ghosts of December 23rds Past | On Being a Homegirl
14. Ghosts of December 23rds Past – The Poetic Take | writingequalspassion
15. Emily’s December 23rd | emilykarn
16. Ghosts Who Sing | My Play Nook
17. Ghosts @ HX | HX Report
18. Weekly Writing Challenge | December 23, 2003 | House of Farts
19. Ghosts of December 23rds Past | I’m a Writer, Yes I Am
20. Christmas in the Pacific Northwest – The Christmas Tree – 2012 | Chasing Rabbit Holes
21. One Year From Today | lifewithgreeneyes
22. Festive Reflection | Getting Nowhere Fast
23. Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past | imagination
24. The Day That Changed Her. | Babbleogue
25. The December Twenty-thirds of My Dis-belief | A Wild One Within
26. Weekly Writing Challenge: Twas the night before… | Life of a Fallen Angel
27. Chapters of Christmas Past | Mary J Melange
28. Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past, Or: The Christmas Cancellation | polymathically
29. Galloping Through the Mists of Time | Perceptive Pot Clueless Kettle
30. Stock taking on Dec. 23 | Minnesota Transplant
31. A Good Date (Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past) | Mod with Love
32. Ghosts of December 23rds Past (WW Challenge) | Ruminations & Observations
33. Ghosts of December 23rds Past (Or, Boy Do I Love My Life) | Laughing Through Life
34. December 23, 2005 | johnautry24
35. Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past | Stories for the Heart
36. ghosts of december | yi-ching lin photography
37. there are decembers | y
38. 23 Desember 2 atau 3 tahun lalu | semangat! (coba-coba)
39. My Other Blog | Ghosts Of Christmas Past – 1965
40. How I Love Christmas Eve … | Life with Tess
41. Christmas week, a year ago and today | We Live In A Flat
42. Ghosts of December 23rds Past | The Nameless One
43. The History of my 23rd and 24th of Decembers | TechnoTom
44. of ferocity « Anawnimiss
45. Ep. 4 – Joyride To Egypt: My Passive Agressive Mother’s Report | Aisha’s Oasis
46. And A Very Unusual Christmas To You Too! | An Upturned Soul
47. WWC: Ghosts of December 23rds Past (1991) | Caitlyn McConnell
48. Ghosts Of December Past | ☥ Venom’s Blog ☥
49. Years In Review… | Sincerely, Ms. Roberts
50. December 24th(s): A reflection of Silent Nights | classyasfemme
51. DP Challenge: Ghosts of Christmas Past | Making Life an Art
52. Ghosts of December 23rds Past | Beezy Beez
53. Claude and Fraud Do Something 1U | Keigh Ahr
54. Nine Decembers – Joy and Woe
55. Christmas in Connecticut | Kosher Adobo
56. Leaving On a Jet Plane | Anecdote Love
57. Ghosts of Dec24 Past | Peskipiksi Pesternomi
58. Eight years of Christmas preparations | Sue’s Trifles
59. Retrospect: Ever wanted to run and halt simultaneously? | Expressions
60. Amber Sun / Амберно сонце | НЕКОИ МАЛИ НЕШТА ПИСАТЕЛСКИ
61. 23rd December 2012 | Incessantly Inspired
62. Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past | life n me!
63. Pokey Stories, a Top 10 List | Ms. Brigitte’s Mild Ride
64. DP Writng Challenge Accepted! ~”Ghosts Of Christmas Past” | Just A Recovery Author Learning To Be A Better Writer
65. Upset Sauce and Crabbalin’ Water | Lovin the Trip
66. Weekly Challenge Wednesday | uiramu
67. WEEKLY WRITING CHALLENGE: GHOST OF MY DECEMBER 23RD PAST | wildandfreeandme
68. Pages From Diary Of A School Girl | Shadows Of The Divine
69. Weekly Writing Challenge: Ghosts of December 23rds Past | Shawn’s Ramblings