The holidays are about family. They can be a time of forgiveness. Of letting go of the past and coming together to share a meal and a laugh and company.
In every family there is a Bumble. In 1964’s Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer christmas tv special Bumble is the antagonist. To “bumble” by definition is to proceed in a clumsy fashion, to botch or bungle, make a mess of things.
This weekend I thought a lot about how much I hope our Bumble can come around like Bumble the Abominable Snowman. At the end of Rudolph Bumble is smiling a toothless grin and places the star on the top of the Christmas tree in ChristmasTown. He may not be beloved by the whole town but at least he has stopped wreaking havoc.
For years now our Bumble has referred to the island he calls home as the “Island for Misfit Toys.” It seemed appropriate to post this ornament this morning as he heads back out of town.
Family weekends can be messy for any family. There was a moment this weekend when I wondered just how much more I had in me. How much love, how much forgiveness. In that moment I looked down and Emily was just standing there. She took my hand and smiled and said “Here. I have this fortune, it’s yours.”
And in to my hand she placed a slip of paper.
“Love, like war, is easy to start and nearly impossible to end.”
If that’s true, it might be your saving grace. Tighten up, Jer. You got this. Merry Christmas, Bumble.
They look alike when they first wake up.
Excitement on the side 
Once again … your writing brings tears to my eyes. Em is a Wise Old Soul. You are truely blessed! With more to come…
She certainly is… I am awfully lucky to have her in my corner.
As usual, I am blown away by Miss Emily’s empathy. Such a perceptive, sweet little girl. I play nicely with my ex too. It’s not always easy, but for my Miss A, it’s totally worth it.
That it is. :) But as for little missy’s empathy… she is amazing. I’m lucky to have her. But what was crazy is that she can’t read that well. So her handing me the fortune was one of those weird moments of kismet.