It has been ten years since I went to Sneedville and spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my parents. My ex-friend gave me a ride there and a ride back home the next evening. I took my "Scramble" handheld game with me to play and I also took my cat. Time sure does fly. It doesn't seem like it has been an entire decade since then.

I figured that it would be Dad's last Christmas because he had Leukemia. But I had no idea that it would be Mom's last Christmas as well. Mom died less than three months later and Dad died about seven months later. I wish I had known that it would be Mom's last Christmas because I would've appreciated it more than I did. People should treasure every moment they have with their parents because they can die sooner than we think they will.

Even though my ex-friend isn't my friend anymore, she probably gave me the best Christmas present I've ever received. Because of her, I was able to spend my parents last Christmas with them. May Mom and Dad rest in peace.

(Dedicated to Agnes and Charles Johnson who died on March 6 and July 13, 2013)