Weihnachten Anders: Hertel Ohne Papa Eberhard

CORO

You need 3 min read

·

Post on Nov 23, 2024

45 visitor like this post

Share

Weihnachten anders: Hertel ohne Papa Eberhard

This year, Christmas feels…different. Really different. You know how it is, right? Those traditions, the smells, the sounds – they're all tied up with memories, especially family memories. And this year, a huge chunk of my Christmas memories are missing: Papa Eberhard. He passed away last spring, and this Christmas, the first without him, feels…empty.

The Silent Chair

It's the little things that hit you hardest, you know? Like that empty chair at the dinner table. Every year, Papa Eberhard would be there, carving the goose with that goofy grin of his. He'd tell his corny jokes, the ones we all knew by heart, and Mom would roll her eyes, but secretly, she loved it. This year, the goose was delicious, but the silence at the table… man, it was deafening.

I tried, I really did. I tried to fill the void, telling his jokes, even attempting his signature goose-carving technique (failed miserably, I might add). But it wasn't the same. It felt…wrong. It felt like wearing someone else's shoes – too big, too clunky, not quite right.

Coping Mechanisms: Finding New Traditions

It wasn’t just the dinner table. The entire holiday felt off. We usually went ice-skating on Christmas Eve, a tradition Papa Eberhard started when I was little. This year, the ice-skating rink felt strangely cold, like my heart.

What to do? I needed to do something, anything, to channel my grief and still find joy. So, we did something completely different. We started a new tradition. We made it a "Papa Eberhard Memorial Christmas Bake-Off." Each of us made his favorite dessert – Stollen.

Everyone brought their own twist, adding a little bit of themselves to the recipe. It was chaotic, messy, and far from perfect. But it was ours. It was our tradition, a new memory to layer on top of the old ones. It wasn't a replacement, but a way to honor his memory while forging ahead.

Finding Peace During the Holidays

The truth is, grief is a messy beast. There's no right or wrong way to feel, and there's definitely no quick fix. This Christmas, I learned a few things, maybe things that might help you too.

• Acknowledge your feelings: Don't try to suppress your sadness. Let yourself grieve. Cry if you need to. Scream into a pillow. Do whatever helps you process your emotions. It's okay to not be okay.
• Lean on others: Reach out to family and friends for support. Let them help you through this difficult time. Talking to someone can be a huge relief.
• Create new traditions: It's okay to adapt and change your traditions. Finding new ways to remember loved ones and celebrate the season can be a positive step.
• Remember the joy: Don't let sadness completely overshadow the positive aspects of the holidays. Focus on the good things, such as spending time with loved ones. Remember the joy that your loved one brought into your life.

This Christmas felt different, yes, but it wasn't entirely bad. It was a Christmas of adaptation, of new beginnings, and of cherishing the memories of Papa Eberhard, even in his absence. It was a start, a new chapter in our family story. And somehow, that feels…okay. Maybe even hopeful.