Christmas and the Perfect Moment

It was November 10, 2025, a Monday. The day before had been windy with a chill in the air though it got up to 60 degrees. The wind was exhausting after several days of it.

That November 10th Monday morning Milo (my labrador mix) and I headed out for our morning walk along a draw near my home.  It was our first real cold day: 15 degrees. The sun was up just enough as to light the top of trees and cast long cold shadows. While some leaves had already fallen, particularly in the wind the previous day, many trees were still holding their leaves. 

This morning there was not a breath of air.  This morning was so quiet as if Milo and I were the only two in that moment.  Because of the frigged weather, we were greeted with slowly falling leaves.  Many of the leaves still held their fall colors—yellows and oranges.  The leaves from one tree left their branches and twirled to the ground, slowly and gracefully.  The catalpa leaves were still green but were also letting go of the branches, but falling in great noisy clumps loud enough to startled Milo. 

We strolled around in the wonder of the moment, not wanting it to pass—feeling like we were in the middle of a blessing.   

The next day, Milo and I again went for a walk.  Many of the fallen leaves had already lost much of their color, migrating to brown. 

It made me realize that Milo and I had experienced a perfect moment that cold Monday morning, one that may not experience again.

This is Christmas season.  It has always been important to me:  from my faith, the celebration of the birth of Christ; from my family standpoint, the time we gather, casting aside our busy lives. 

The Christmas holiday can be difficult, if not frustrating and even discouraging: the pressures of last minute shopping, arranging schedules, and balancing obligations with the various families. Yet we try to make the effort.

Years ago, after my grandmother moved to Kansas from Fort Worth, my family and my sister’s family, were all able to get together at my house.  It was not easy, as the families were spread out over the country.  But they all came to celebrate the holiday with my grandmother, and it turned out to be the last one for us to all be with her.  While we were together, we had a special moment—that of multiple generations all coming from the heritage of my grandmother-- that would not be captured again. 

I hope this Christmas for that special singular special moment with my family: my wife of 45 years, sons Ben, Josh and Dan, daughter-in-law, Caley, and of course grandsons, Alex and Max, and even Milo.  I hope for that special moment that will live in my memory of the special moments of Christmas.

From me and all of our team at Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, Merry Christmas to you and your family.  May your Christmas be blessed, despite whatever else is going on.  And I hope and pray that you look for and find that special moment when the leaves are falling and you realize it is a moment that will always be with you.