As a caregiver and someone who has lost a loved one, the upcoming San Diego Hospice Light up a Life celebration on December 15, 2009 at the San Diego Civic Theatre, has special meaning to me. The event ”honors the cherished memories of loved ones for many San Diegans” – a chance for me to reflect and celebrate those who are important in my life.

Light up a Life honors cherished memories for many San Diego caregivers.

The holidays have become a bittersweet time for me - which I don’t feel is a bad thing – but a reality that I continue to process and deal with. The emphasis on tradition is the foundation of most holidays, as it is on display wherever I go: at the supermarket, in retail stores, at shopping malls, and in the news.

Holiday traditions have been an integral part of my upbringing. Growing up Catholic, and Filipino, there are a lot of seasonal rituals that we participate in. First, there is Simbang Gabi (“Mass at Dawn”), a huge Filipino tradition that involves a nine-day Novena and culminates with Mass on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, my family attends Midnight Mass (actually at Midnight). Before Midnight Mass, we are all allowed to open one gift, then we open the rest of our Christmas presents after the Mass. When my siblings and I were younger, that meant staying up all night playing with our new toys. On Christmas Day, my Dad cooks a feast for family and friends who gather for lunch, which ultimately leads to an all day feeding frenzy, with power naps snuck in between each visit to the buffet table.

It is during times like these that I miss my family who are are no longer with us: my Mom, my Nephew, my dear friends and relatives….all those who have brought meaning to these holiday traditions throughout my life. But those cherished memories live on because I live on. And the joy that is Christmas continues because of these traditions that we share with others as we commemorate the lives of those who have died.

At Light up a Life, I will sponsor lights on the Christmas Tree and Menorah in memory of those who are close to my heart. I invite you to take part in San Diego Hospice’s annual Light up a Life tradition, or whatever tradition that has meaning for you, as we celebrate the beauty of the human spirit that inspires a reason for the season in each of us.