This is going to be my family's third Christmas since my mom died two years and two weeks ago, and Christmas hasn't been the same since.
I'm told it gets better as the years go by, but I'm not sure about that.
Christmas is such a special time for family and friends, and my mom made sure that we all knew that—and that we enjoyed it as much as she did.
But no one really could.
She lived a long life, and she lived a good life, and I think she'd be the first to tell you that. She was looking forward to her days in heaven, because she wanted to see her family and friends who had gone before.
I hope she has; and I hope she gets to see Courtney Howard.
Courtney is the young lady from Mabank who finished her years in high school; taking her chemotherapy for cancer in the morning, then playing her basketball and volleyball games at night.
She lost her hair, but never her enthusiasm, never the inner courage that most of us can only hope we have.
Courtney never lost hope that she would win her fight and live, until the day four weeks ago she died.
There's another angel walking the streets of heaven tonight, and for the family and friends she leaves behind, we need to remember the lessons she taught us all.
Courtney Howard taught us how to live as she was learning how to die.
We need to remember that life is too short for too many, and we need to remember how lucky most of us really are.
I love to read your e-mails when you're mad about something I've said; telling me I'm fat and bald and old (as if we don't have any mirrors in our house).
If you really think I care, I don't. Bothered by it? I'm not.
Oh, I'm going to try and lose some weight again. The hair's not coming back. And getting older is okay with me, because the alternative doesn't appeal to me that much.
But when that day comes (and I'm pretty sure that it will), I hope that I can die with the grace and dignity that Courtney Howard showed every day of her short life.
She taught us how to live, and she taught us how to die.
Her family and friends will miss her, maybe more at this time of year than any other, but her work here is done.
She wasn't here long enough, but she was here, and she taught us all she could.
We'll always remember Courtney Howard, and we need to remember what she taught us—what we really need to know—about how lucky we really are.
Another angel walks the streets of heaven tonight. Thank God for kids.
E-mail dhansen@wfaa.com
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