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A hectic and rewarding Christmas

I must admit that going into this Christmas season I wasn't all that stoked on the holiday.  With my dad being sick, my spare time consumed by back and forth trips to the doctors, pharmacy aI must admit that going into this Christmas season I wasn't all that stoked on the holiday.  With my dad being sick, my spare time consumed by back and forth trips to the doctors, pharmacy and various hospitals, I'd had very little time to do any Christmas shopping.  Work felt like it was breathing down my neck and the holiday season just didn't have that same Christmas-tree-in-the-living-room, air smelling like chimney type of feeling like it used to.  Yes, Bah Humbug.
Well, that all changed after a couple of great visits with family.  After waking up and sharing some funny stories with my dad about how loud he snores, I headed over to my uncles newly remodeled house to hang out with the Araneta's (moms side).  I was greeted with the usual showering of sniffs on the cheeks and tentative hugs from my favorite little nephew Lex.  I did my rounds, hugging and small talking with all of my family and many aunties.  The food spread was absolutely first rate, home style, Filipino-American, holiday grub. 
As I sat and ate and chatted with family I realized how emotional Christmas had become for me.  With all the feelings of worry and stress and not having bought that many presents, I forgot how good it felt just to be in the presence of a loving family.  My cousins made me laugh, my little nephew did youtube worthy theatrics and my aunts and uncles all took time to check in with me and see how I was doing.  I even made out with an emergency Crank-Powered radio from a game of White Elephant.  It was just what the Dr. Phil ordered.  Some good times with the fam. 
After leaving the festivities from moms side, I headed over to spend some time with pops.  I was pleasantly...

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