“Ever since then, the holidays just haven’t been the same,” said daughter Tiffany Trilli, 24.
A woman who says celebrating Christmas in their family just wasn’t the same after her father died surprised her mom with a trip of a lifetime to Europe for the holidays.
Tammy Roberts, 55, of Homestead, Fla., was given the shock of a lifetime when a wrapped box from her daughter contained tickets for two to Paris and London.
“I decided to take it up a notch this year and book a Europe trip,” daughter Tiffany Trilli, 24, told InsideEdition.com. “My mom isn’t the biggest risk taker […] so I decided not to tell her. I booked the trip to Paris and London to leave on Christmas Day and surprised her.”
Tiffany explained that growing up, she would enjoy an Italian-style Christmas feast with her dad and their extended family, complete with stone crab claws and other seafood.
“It was one of my favorite traditions,” she said.
But five years ago, just before Christmas, her dad died suddenly of a heart attack.
“Ever since then, the holidays just haven’t been the same,” she explained. “I used to look forward to Christmas and all the joy and great spirits that came with it, but after he passed, the holiday season turned into a constant reminder that he was gone.”
The year after, finding themselves alone on Christmas Day, they decided to spontaneously book a trip to the Dominican Republic.
Realizing that a getaway for the holidays took their minds off the grief, they decided to continue the tradition to a nearby Caribbean island year after year.
“We’ve created a new tradition that makes sense for the reshaped family we have become,” she said. “It’s like we have an opportunity to find a lasting way to remember my dad.”
This year, before they decided where they would go at the last minute, Tiffany went ahead and booked their trip to Europe, knowing her mom would have hesitated on a trip that big.
“Safe to say I got my free spirit from my dad,” Tiffany said. “Even though he isn’t with me anymore, I carry him with me throughout every journey and aspect of my life.”
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