I’ve learned a few lessons in my fifty-plus years of life experience. One of the most valuable is that there are no do overs. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and you can’t un-pop a balloon.

At Christmas time more then any other I am reminded of the “no do over rule.” I can’t go back in time and relive the moments in my life that at the time were so overwhelming. If I could, then I would have enjoyed the year all three kids had chicken pox over Christmas. For two weeks before and one week after, someone was always in the contagious stage. No one wanted to visit or come any closer then the front door to our home. It was just the four of us, a tree, calamine lotion and toys that never got much attention until the scabs feel off.

At the time I thought it was the worst holiday ever, but now I cherish those memories, the time spent together and kids that only needed their mommy, a blankie and the occasional cool bath.

I think I would have complained less and tried to have a bit more patience on that Christmas Eve so many years ago when I discovered that every toy Santa intended to bring required some assembly, batteries and decals applied to every inch of the “Power Wheels.” Without those decals it was just another plastic tricycle; evidently, the decals were the thing that gave the plastic bike its power. Why Mattel”could not add those darned decals at the factory is beyond me. At the time I was sleep deprived, stressed and just wanted to get it over with. Now I wish that I could have a “do over” and enjoy the time it took to make magic for my family, decals and all.

There are people that are no longer here, who were such a blessing to me. When I needed him most, my dad was always in my corner. Even when I didn’t know I needed him, he was there. My mother in-law accepted me into her life and loved me like her own. And my brother in-law, who tried to be the tough guy by keeping my children from being unruly urchins, was truly a teddy bear of a guy that my children grew to love and respect.

I never knew that my last Christmas with each of them would come with so little warning. I hope they all know how special they were and how much they were loved. I wish that I had made sure that they knew.

And so on this Christmas, my wish for all of you is moments. May you enjoy the assembling, wrapping, decal applying and chicken pox craziness of Christmas. May you have moments to spend with those you love and time enough to tell them how much they mean to you. There are no “do overs.” May all your moments be special and memorable, decals and all.

Merry Christmas and God Bless.