Top 10 things I will miss about not being home for the Holidays

Something hit me this weekend after puting the lights onto the Bowers' Christmas tree: It is quickly approaching the holiday season.

In recent years, I've spent many a holiday away from home, and as much as I loath the cultural eye-sore most of the season has become, I can't help but feel the pull of sentiment at this time of year.

So, in honour of yet another Christmas away from home, I dedicate this top ten list to my cousin Mechelle Ramos who has been living in Taiwan for the past few years.

Top 10 things I will miss about not being home for the Holidays:

10. Going to Kensington Market with my brothers, in the attempt to trade our sister in for a very cool leather jacket.

9. #19A at Saigon Palace

8. The frost bitten toes and runny nose I get when I go skating at Nathan Philip Square.

7. Playing poker with our dad, as he makes up the rules as we go along.

6. The nine hour drive so we can hangout in places with names like Octobar, Grey Rocks and Le Shack.

5. “I love the smell of road salt in the morning...”

4. Auntie Meesh, is it midnight yet?

3. “Hey mom, we’re just gonna walk the dog.”

2. “But we don’t have a dog!”

1. Daniel, Gabriel, Teresa, Justin, Meghan and Ethan.