Weihnachten Anders: Hertel Ohne Papa Eberhard

PETER

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Post on Nov 23, 2024

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Weihnachten anders: Hertel ohne Papa Eberhard

This Christmas feels…different. Really different. You know how it is, right? Those cherished Christmas traditions, the ones you take for granted? Well, this year, things are…shifted. It's the first Christmas without Papa Eberhard. For those who don't know, Eberhard Hertel was a huge part of my family's Christmases, and honestly, a pretty big part of my Christmases.

The Empty Chair

It's weird, isn't it? The house feels… quieter. I mean, sure, it's quiet at Christmas time sometimes, but this is a different kind of quiet. It's the quiet of absence. There's an empty chair at the dinner table. An empty chair by the fireplace where he used to read those silly Christmas stories to my little cousins. He always insisted on reading them, even though they're probably way too old for them now.

Remember how he used to always insist on putting the star on top of the tree? He'd get up on that rickety old ladder, wobbling around like a stork, muttering about how he needed a new ladder. Every. Single. Year. And then, of course, he'd get a huge grin on his face when he finally got it in place perfectly. It was his thing, his moment of Christmas glory. This year, my older brother took over, but it just wasn't the same. You know? It felt…wrong somehow.

Coping with Loss During the Holidays

Losing someone close is tough anytime. But losing someone during the holidays? It's like a double whammy. All the joy and merriment are mixed with this heavy, sad feeling. I've learned – the hard way, believe me – that you gotta let yourself feel. Don’t try to suppress those feelings. Let the tears flow. There is nothing wrong with this. I spent a good chunk of early December, honestly, just being a blubbering mess. You just have to allow yourself time to grieve and feel all of the emotions.

Finding Joy Amidst the Sorrow

Now, I'm not saying that Christmas is ruined forever. It's not. But it is different. And that's okay. What I've learned is that you need to find new ways to make it special. This year we decided to add some new traditions, little things to remind us of Eberhard in a positive way. We watched his favorite Christmas movie, and made some of his favorite cookies. We even told stories about him, sharing memories and laughing (and crying, of course).

It helped. It really did. It wasn't the same, but it was a kind of different good. It was about remembering. This has nothing to do with the usual commercial Christmas stuff, you know? The decorations, the shopping... it's not just about that. It's about cherishing the memories and the love we shared.

Practical Tips for Handling Grief During the Holidays

Here are a few things that worked for me and might help others navigate similar situations:

• Allow yourself to grieve: Don't try to bottle up your feelings. Cry if you need to.
• Talk to someone: Talk to family, friends, or a therapist. It helps to share your feelings.
• Create new traditions: Add new traditions that help you remember your loved one positively.
• Focus on the good memories: Think about the happy times you shared and cherish those memories. I find looking at photos from past Christmases is a great help.
• Be kind to yourself: Grief takes time and there's no set timeframe for healing.

Christmas without Papa Eberhard is tough. There are moments, little triggers, that still make me incredibly sad, like seeing that empty chair. But it's about adapting, creating new happy memories, and remembering the love and laughter we shared. The spirit of Christmas – that feeling of warmth, connection, and family – still shines through, even if the details have changed. It's just…different, and, maybe in a weird way, this different is still beautiful.