Home for the holidays

I'm not home anymore. Well, actually, I am home. In my NY "home," which really isn't where the heart is, as they say. At least not for Christmastime. I just got back from a little more than a week-long trip to Michigan, and the last few days have been kind of a blur. I stood up in Lindsay and Trep's wedding on Friday, so in addition to the usual holiday happenings, there was lots to do surrounding that: bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, gift-finding, lots of salon and beauty parlor time, and of course, the wedding itself. I've been looking forward to this wedding for so long (since we were kids, really). And I wasn't let down. Everything was so beautiful, from the flowers to the heart-shaped cookies made by Lindsay's grandparents. Lindsay was gorgeous and I'm pretty sure everyone shed at least a tear and then danced it off later at the reception. My mom and brother flew in from Florida for the wedding, and for the first time in more than a year, the four of us were all back in the house. There's no better feeling than waking up to the sound of mom downstairs making coffee and my dad snoring down the hall. Well, there are better sounds, but none more comforting. We held a huge Christmas party on the 23rd, inviting everyone from co-workers to neighbors. My parents have held some large parties in the past, but this was definitely the biggest. I've never seen more people crowded in those rooms. We did our gift-opening on Christmas Eve and ordered Chinese food for dinner at my aunt's house. Then it was off to the airport early this morning. My mom and brother are probably on their way back down south right now. Once again, I feel cheated on family time and I'm not sure that's ever going to change.