Hometown Christmas
“Grandma’s singing those Christmas songs that no one has ever heard…
us cousins, we’d be playing until dinner was served…
the feeling that comes back to me is hard to put into words…
Now there’s miles between us; years between friends
but we’ll all be together again—
One thing on my wishlist; it’s a hometown Christmas”
Every single year since I can remember, I’ve spent Christmas with my Uncle Matt and my cousins. Somehow, Uncle Matt always seems to have a new outlandish story to tell us all about his recent adventures, and, unbelievably, they’re always true. We eat lots of food, play “The Present Game” (I know, very original name), and spend time into the late hours chatting and catching up.
Now I’m here, living at Walt Disney World. 2022 will mark the first Christmas Day I've spent away from my family in my entire life. I know that, for many of you (especially my CP friends), you’re facing the exact same thing. Thanksgiving was undoubtedly hard— but I’m guessing Christmas away from family will be even harder.
I have various levels of this missing “hometown Christmas” syndrome. On one level, there’s my Uncle Matt, my parents, and the others who will be celebrating without me this year. On a much deeper one, there’s my brother Nick who died when he was 15 of leukemia. Christmas has never quite been the same since, because there’s now a missing element to any gathering that (in this life) can never be recovered.
Sometimes I think back to my childhood, wishing I could return for a day to a Christmas long ago where everyone I love is present. And then I come back to the present— where I’m further away than ever before.
It’s true, most of us are going to be missing quite a bit this Christmas. But in the midst of all of those thoughts, I’m so thankful for what I’ve gained… a family of Cast Members. All of you— the amazing people who also call Walt Disney World home. From the CP who I can always count on to dance during Festival of Fantasy at MK to my friend at ESPN who makes every shift there worth working; from the Coordinator who is a little rough around the edges (and yet still lovable) to the joy that leaks from my ODV friend…
If I know you and work with you, I mean it when I say that I love you and I’m honored to spend this Christmas season with you. And even in the midst of what’s missing this year, what I’ve gained in all of you is an amazing place to find myself.
Hope is the anthem,
Josh