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Post by stepper on Dec 10, 2009 19:13:12 GMT -6
Yes, but not in math class. We're guys. Hints, subtle or not-so-subtle, do not work. You have to actually tell us what you want. We make it easy for you! "Honey. See this picture? It's a left handed smoke shifter with hot dog attachment. I want a blue one, okay?" Now is that easy or what? Sorry about that one, really. I'd like a snow storm, but not one in those proportions. I want the one where it snows at night and everything is closed the next day so you can go out and play in the snow, but that evening it turns warm so the next morning it's all melted again. You know, that might be the one they used for target practice but the bullets kept bouncing off! That's where they got the idea for modern day body armor.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 11, 2009 8:15:32 GMT -6
Thanks for the emergency fruitcake rations, Yinyang. Thank the gods, I went to the grocery Wednesday, and didn't need it!
And yet, it's still pretty much intact. I wonder who belongs to the initials of the poor soul who actually had to resort to taking a bite.
Yes, yes...I've heard this before. But what about the surprise?! I like surprises....most of them anyway. For example, if I received a left-handed smoke shifter with hot dog attachment, I'd definitely be surprised enough to shout, "WTF!!!" Because after twenty-some odd years, I'd expect Hubs to know I was right-handed.
Oh, I see! That explains fruitcake's indestructibility - it was the early predecessor of Kevlar....before they got the leadenness thing worked out. Can you imagine wearing a suit made of fruitcake? It'd be so heavy, you wouldn't be able to move....even more immobile than the little brother in the Christmas Story all bundled up.
Speaking of which, it's still that kind of put-on-so-many-layers-you-can't-move weather here. School's been cancelled again due to high winds and drifting snow. Sigh....I'm never going to get my Christmas shopping done.
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Post by stepper on Dec 11, 2009 22:16:03 GMT -6
Aww. I'm sorry Phalon. Really. (Cough cough) The weather isn't cooperating here either. It's been in the mid 30s 2 days in a row! YUCK! Fortunately, I managed to get everything mailed out today so, except for a few extras staying here, I'm done. Well, I thought so. Then tonight steppet saw a new washer and dryer she wants. "But honey! Appliances don't make good Christmas presents! Here. How about this nice box of chocolate covered cherries??!!" And for any guy reading this, don't get your special lady a vacuum cleaner for Christmas or her birthday. Not even if it has the special under the fridge attachment and whisper motor. Trust me on this one. The grocery store sold out of fruitcakes. The only thing you can get now is ingredients - for those who know how to make their own and have the time I guess.
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Post by quettalee on Dec 12, 2009 0:41:41 GMT -6
See, I'm just the opposite. If a vacuum is what this girl needs, then slap a big bow on that bad boy, park it under the tree, and wait for the huge smile on my face!
Or better yet, that overdue visit to the eye doctor complete with a six-month's supply of disposable contacts. That's always one of my favs.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 12, 2009 7:02:26 GMT -6
HA! I laugh in the face of your mid-thirties, and drop you down about twenty degrees - my thermometer has read the mid-teens these past two days, and that's without the dang non-stop wind factored in. 'Course, it's all relative - I wouldn't last a day in your summertime heat. And if you're a kid, none of it matters - heat or cold, if you have a day off school, Mother Nature isn't going to stop you from taking advantage of it. BP was at the ice rink most of the day yesterday with the neighbors; LX and her friends hit all the good sledding hills in town. Meanwhile, I stayed warm inside, getting the bulk of my shopping done on-line.
I fall somewhere in-between Stepper's Don't Get a Woman a Vacuum Theory and TG's Gimme That Bad Boy Wrapped Up in a Bow Theory (which sounds kinda odd considering....).
I like getting (and sometimes giving) necessities - that overdue eye doctor visit, for example, would be welcomed because it might force me to actually schedule that overdue appointment. Dang, driving LX and her friend back to friend's house last night, I didn't realize how bad my eyes really were.....and how out-dated my 12 year old glasses looked until I put them on, and LX (who's never seen me wear them) started cracking up, especially when I slid them down to the tip of my nose just to add to the Old Lady Effect.
I bought myself a set of dishes for Christmas, which was a necessity - they'll get wrapped and placed under the tree with a tag that reads 'from Santa'. And I might even like a new vacuum if I needed one.....and lived in a single-person household. Receiving a vacuum (or other such appliance) in a two or more person household though, implies vacuuming is the sole responsibility of the vacuum receiver....which here it is not. And giving LX a vacuum because she is responsible for vacuuming most of the time? OMG!!! The look on her face would be priceless. Almost priceless enough to give it a try. Too bad we don't need one.
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Post by stepper on Dec 13, 2009 0:02:02 GMT -6
BOLL! Okay, you got me that time.
I agree with you TG, but somehow as it nears Christmas the things I need are more electronic - like table saws with laser lines to point exactly where the cut will be. Truth be known, if you need a vacuum cleaner I'm the sort of person who'd get you one now. Don't misunderstand, I've received a few presents that filled a very sore need and they were all very much appreciated. I guess I'm trying to say that I like giving fun stuff too. Allowing that I'm not strapped for cash - I refuse to take out a Christmas loan or go broke - but if I've got the $$ and you need something, then you're going to get it when you need it. I prefer giving things that you might not need, but it's still something you'd like to have. When my little sister was a teenager she played softball in the county league. For Christmas I got her a bat with her name burnt into the wood and she loved it. Of course she didn't need it, but at the time it was still a good gift for her.
We're going to warm up for a day or two. The weather guessers are saying mid 70s. That's not Christmas weather, but I'll take it! I'll even bottle some and send it up for a Christmas present!
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Post by Phalon on Dec 13, 2009 7:39:48 GMT -6
Oooo, thanks for the offer of bottled warmth, Stepper. I'll save it for February - it always seems that's the month we usually really need it. Quick warm-up here overnight; it's in the mid-thirties now, and our snow has turned to mush - I think it might have even rained during the night.
Glad I got that ski in yesterday. It was the perfect kind of snow - a nice flat surface rippled by the wind, just like the sand that gets ridges from the waves just a few feet out in the water; I love the feeling under my feet of ridged sand like that. There was a nice, hard crust of icy snow too, so that it sounded like sandpaper on wood as I skied over top. So different than roller-skiing, and it always trips me out the first time I switch from wheels to sticks, and then back again in spring, that the two similar sports are actually so different.
How neat! Those kinds of thoughtful gifts are the most meaningful, and most remembered.
Hubs and I did a little more shopping together last night. It's finally starting to look like it might all get done before Christmas!
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Post by Phalon on Dec 16, 2009 8:58:27 GMT -6
Whoo-hoo! I am on a roll this morning, Sweet Taters! What's that saying? "A Mom does more before 8am than most people do in a day?" Ok, so that's not exactly right, but I am MOM, hear me roar!
This morning I corrected a stack of papers for BP's class that her teacher sent home, and BP had jammed on the bottom of her backpack and didn't tell me they were in there until this morning.
Dropped her off at school, swung by the high-school on the way back, because LX called to tell me she left her sketchbook on her bedroom floor under a stack of clean laundry, and she had an assignment in it that was due today. (why is her clean laundry on the floor anyway?)
Came home, packed a box for my neice and nephew to get to the post office. Finished addressing the Christmas cards that I had enough stamps to send; took everything to the post office, (was warned again they would no longer be able to provide tape because I forgot to tape the bottom of the package....post office guy taped it for me anyway). Bought stamps - Christmas ones this time - the first batch went out with Liberty Bells; I figure they are partial Christmas stamps. Bells are Christmasy, no?
Two more stops and my shopping is done!!! The toy store downtown, and the ice rink for the annual gift certificate for my neighbors. I think I'll get one for BP and me too; she's been bugging me for a "Mom and Me Day" and she loves ice-skating.
That'll have to wait though....I'm attending a class today up north with a few co-workers. Kinda looking forward to a break in the Christmas mode; I've heard the professor speak before and he always gives a great lecture. And I'm not doing the driving....long trip, and I'll have plenty of time to zone out on the way!
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Post by stepper on Dec 16, 2009 21:36:30 GMT -6
Good Grief Phalon - I've had entire weekends when I did less than that.
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Post by moonglum on Dec 18, 2009 0:28:48 GMT -6
Well the snow has finally arrived in the UK and as usual, the roads are chaos. Power lines down, trees down and not a gritter in sight. I might go back to bed.
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Post by Mini Mia on Dec 18, 2009 0:46:05 GMT -6
Sounds like a good plan, MG.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 18, 2009 8:46:48 GMT -6
Hope you got your warm bed instead of a cold, treacherous drive this morning, MG. Stay safe if you've got to be out there.
We've got steady flurries here. Is there such a thing? Too small and fluffy of flakes to be what I consider real snow though it's falling steadily, but in a wafting manner. <shrugs> Whatever you'd call it, it's starting to cover the ground. Skiing is in my plans for this morning, and I'd better hurry. Wheels today cuz there's not enough of the steadily falling stuff for the sticks.....though if I wait much longer, I might get to switch.
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Post by Siren on Dec 22, 2009 18:41:21 GMT -6
In Oklahoma, a brown Christmas is common: kids riding their new Christmas bicycles across the dead, brown lawn. But this year, it could be different: the weatherman says there's a good chance of a white Christmas. My condolences to those whose holiday travel plans were thwarted by the blizzard back east. But here in the southwest, the prospect of a white Christmas is a very exciting thing. Someone put a little extra jingle in a local Salvation Army kettle this week: www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?S=11712752
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Post by Phalon on Dec 24, 2009 8:42:13 GMT -6
I hope you get your white Christmas, Siren....a beautiful one without all the hassles that sometimes come with the white stuff! Our Christmas will be white too - last week, I was wondering, but it's snowed every day we were gone, my neighbor said. It snowed while we staying at my brother's too, and I was so wishing I'd brought my skis. It's different over on the other side of the state - there's no wind. I imagine it's windy in Oklahoma too - probably because of that song that pops into my head every time I say the word "Oklahoma" - where the wind comes whipping down the plain. The storm is supposed to hit here later this afternoon, starting with rain, and then changing to ice and snow overnight. I am so glad we don't have to travel in it. Hoping everyone who is traveling has a safe trip. That is such a neat story about the coin given to the Salvation Army; hope and generosity like that is what the Christmas season is all about, and there are definitely more than enough people in this country who can use a little bit of hope. (warning: shameless plug to follow) I wrote a little Christmas poem for my blog about those who need hope, not only this Christmas, but throughout the year. www.grit.com/A-Lakeside-View/What-If-On-the-Night-Before-Christmas.aspxAnd, I found a way to help! Ever hear of PAR? It's an acronym for "Plant a Row", a program that provides fresh food for those in need - all done through gardening. The premise is simple: gardeners who grow vegetables plant a little bit extra, which is then donated to area charities and food banks. I just learned about PAR the other day, have been doing some brainstorming and talking to friends and neighbors. We have plans to start a PAR program here in town. I'm excited. Here's a little information from the Plant a Row for Hunger website: "Since 1995, over 14 million pounds of produce providing over 50 million meals have been donated by American gardeners. All this has been achieved without government subsidy or bureaucratic red tape — just people helping people."
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Post by Siren on Dec 24, 2009 11:43:27 GMT -6
The PAR program sounds great, Gams. Way to go, helping get your community involved. If all the people who THINK about helping, put that thought into action, as you are, there would be a lot less need in this world. Well done! *clap on the back* And another commendation for that poem. An excellent message, well-presented. You may claim to not be a poet. But you could have fooled me! And let me also congratulate you for working several semicolons into the poem. I know that made you happy. I loved your description of your childhood Christmases. How wonderful of your parents to work so hard to bring magic to Christmas morning. And it's the magic of Christmas that makes it memorable, when so many gifts will be forgotten. Thanks for the good wishes, Gams. We had sleet this morning, and now it's snowing. And yes, Gams, those winds are REALLY "sweeping down the plain", as our state song says. In fact, the weather is quite dangerous for travelers: 50 mph wind gusts for most of us here, and drifting snow in some areas. I'll be taking my time, heading over-the-river-and-through-the-woods. But when the storm passes, it should be a gorgeous white Christmas here. And I can't help but smile about that. I hope all of you have a splendid holiday with those you love best. Enjoy! *mwah (that's a kiss on the head for each of you, no mistletoe necessary)* ~Siren
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Post by stepper on Dec 24, 2009 16:42:05 GMT -6
I think I'm on the southern end of those winds Siren. We had a big thunderstorm last night and early thing morning, but it's blown its way east. Now we've got howling winds and it's getting much colder. We won't get snow though. One of the claims to fame for this area. We've had snow, but never for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. We're expecting a freeze tonight followed by a slight warming trend. Then next week they're saying we'll get another really cold blast but this time it will include moisture. The term moisture is a tease. What they mean is that we're expecting an ice storm Tuesday or Wednesday next week. Those are never fun. The last one sealed the doors on the truck, and broke a couple of large limbs on the live oak. Live oaks don't shed leaves until spring so ice really builds up on them and they get pretty heavy.
But I'm home and probably won't go anywhere until the 26th. What about the rest of us? Staying home or heading out visiting? If you're heading out, watch the weather, the roads, and the kids who just got a car for Christmas and are texting their friends about what great drivers they are.
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Post by Mini Mia on Dec 24, 2009 18:16:38 GMT -6
No worries here, I could walk to Mom's if I really had to ... and my sister's home is between me and the road, (we share a driveway), so I can walk to her house and ride with them. Sometimes living so close together is nice.
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Post by stepper on Dec 24, 2009 18:39:06 GMT -6
No worries here, I could walk to Mom's if I really had to ... and my sister's home is between me and the road, (we share a driveway), so I can walk to her house and ride with them. Sometimes living so close together is nice.
LOL! If you're that close you could share the same Yule Log! Looks like it's time for me to get busy here.... BBL....maybe.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 26, 2009 23:38:38 GMT -6
You noticed! LMAO. And yes, it made me happy to work in the semi-colons.
Hope you made it over the river, through the woods and back safely. Hubs said he heard Oklahoma, as well as many other states got hit pretty hard.
We can claim to have had another white Christmas this year....barely. We had plenty of snow Christmas Eve - I even went skiing in the morning, but the ice that hit during the night turned to rain by morning, and it continued throughout the day. All the snow except for the piles left from plows and shoveling melted by late afternoon. The rain changed back to snow Christmas night, and it hasn't let up since.
It's the most beautiful kind of snow - big, gorgeous flakes that fall as fluff, easy to shovel and fun to play in. Hubs, BP and I spent a couple of hours doing just that this evening. Got the driveway and walks shoveled, as well as the neighbors', who are out of town for the week. Plenty of snow shovelful fights while we were doing it - snowballs can't be made out of fluff, but you get more of a bang out of a shovelful anyway. BP discarded the sled, and slid down the ravine hill "penguin style" with the dog following close behind. The perfect kind of winter night - the moon could even be faintly seen as a muted smudge of light behind the clouds and falling snow.
It's picked up, and is falling harder now. Looks like we'll have plenty to last us awhile. Yay - I dislike a winter without snow! Pfft to the Alamac that promised we'd have a bitterly cold, but dry season.
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Post by quettalee on Dec 27, 2009 1:15:56 GMT -6
I wore just a long sleeve shirt most of the day yesterday except when Frank and I ventured out to the river and the cemetary to leave our pretty little Dollar General Store fake poinsettias that Frank got for us. The cemetary is on top of a big hill and it was frigid up there with the wind blowing about 75 miles an hour! And Frank couldn't remember exactly where Gary's grave was, so I walked about 10 city blocks looking at every new plot with hay on it. The river was not nearly as cold and the rain had stopped by the time we got there.
I'm jealous about the snow, sis. About the only time I do want snow is from Christmas Eve through New Years and then no more.
I bet it is so beautiful and peaceful there tonight.
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Post by stepper on Dec 27, 2009 17:26:45 GMT -6
As much as I enjoyed the holidays, they're over for me. I go back to work Monday - but on the good side - the very low temps and the freezing rain are gone from the forecast. Icy roads do not make for a fun driving experience. Sigh. Such a long build up, and the Christmas feeling seems to fade so quickly. It's like a coiled spring. It takes time and effort to build up the tension, but the release is so sudden and brief that you have to pay attention or you miss it.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 28, 2009 8:01:44 GMT -6
Glad the rain stopped when you got to the river, Sis. Nothing so dreary as rain in winter, I think. I was out at the cemetary this weekend too, TG...but for very different reasons; that beautiful and peaceful snow you bet we had is nowhere so beautiful in town than in the cemetary with its rolling hills and mature pines. Even though it's in town, it's a world of its own. Yesterday not a sound of civilization could be heard except the swishing of my skis, that seems to be saying "shhh...shhh....shhh." The beautiful quiet was only interrupted by a flock of Canadian geese flying overhead in a V-formation.
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Post by stepper on Dec 28, 2009 23:36:24 GMT -6
I was out at the cemetary this weekend too, TG...but for very different reasons; that beautiful and peaceful snow you bet we had is nowhere so beautiful in town than in the cemetary with its rolling hills and mature pines. Even though it's in town, it's a world of its own. Yesterday not a sound of civilization could be heard except the swishing of my skis, that seems to be saying "shhh...shhh....shhh." The beautiful quiet was only interrupted by a flock of Canadian geese flying overhead in a V-formation. It was peaceful and you could hear the shhh shhh shhh because I wasn't there. It would have been very different. shhh shhh shhh WHACK! Omph! (#$!!!$$#) See the white stuff? The idea is to stay on the white stuff. Those grey things...you're suppose to avoid those. But the white stuff is slippery! And cold. Especially when it goes up your nose or gets in your pants. Then try staying upright. Now lego of the monolith and step back into the bunny path here. I didn't see any rabb.WHACK! Omph! (#$!!!$$#) Good for you! You went a whole 6" before you fell down that time! Is there a way to get up without snow going down my pants? Yes, but it's better to not fall down. Maybe I should walk. You'll never learn how to ski if you give up so easily. Now watch. Shhh Shhh Shhhhhhhh. See how easy that is? Easy for you. Grrr. The snow is melting in my shorts and it's cold! Baby. It's not that bad - now c'mon. Try it again. Shh..WHACK! Omph! (#$!!!$$#) Oh good grief! I need a different pair of pants.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 29, 2009 7:00:33 GMT -6
Aw, poor Stepper! "Snow pants" does not mean they are for putting snow into. I'd loan you a pair of mine, (I wear jeans for skiing anyway...because the idea is not to wallow in the white stuff), but it just doesn't sound proper to say you got into my pants. (eye-roll)
HA! This was me the first and only time I tried roller-skiing down the twisting, hilly roads in the cemetery - despite Bob the Roller-Ski salesman's many verbal and written-in-bold-lettering-across-the-front-of-the-manual warnings NOT to roller-ski down twisting, hilly roads without the speed reducers that I was too cheap to buy with the roller-skis. Draped over and over across many different "grey things", (apparently I was just trying them out for size), it was as if I took Dad's corny saying (see Wives Tales thread) just a bit too much to heart. Or perhaps too cheap to buy the speed reducers, maybe I was also too cheap to pay for the hearse ride to the cemetery.
And I really hope your written experience does not became a verbal one with BP and me tomorrow - she wants me to teach her to cross-country ski at the Nature Center, where they rent skis. Whether or not they have them in her pint-sized size, I don't know - we might be snow-shoeing instead, and then we'll both end up with snow down our pants; it's harder than it looks - at least where my clumsy self is concerned.
I'm thrilled she wants to learn how to cross-country ski with me, but have my reservations. I hated x-country skiing when I was a kid - I thought it was boring as hell. I downhill skied then though, so cross-country I thought was too slow....and way too much work. Now, I'm not sure I could downhill ski again for fear my adult-born height phobia would paralyze me on the chair lift. Of course, riding 'round and 'round on the chair lift all day would probably keep me from breaking my adult legs.
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Post by Siren on Dec 29, 2009 19:13:52 GMT -6
Be sure and take the camera along, Gams. That's a day BP will want to remember. Good luck!
Hubs was right about Oklahoma getting hit hard by winter weather, Gams. We had a very rare, full-fledged Oklahoma blizzard on Christmas Eve. And my sis, BIL, and I were traveling to my folks' right in the middle of it. I have driven in some rotten weather, but have never seen anything like that. Thick snow was blowing literally sideways in winds gusting to 50 mph. At times, you couldn't see the road surface, and had to hope you were staying between the lines. I had to stop periodically to knock chunks of ice off my windshield wipers. I-40 was shut down because of a 50 - yes FIFTY - car pileup. Getting to my sis' house, normally a 40-minute ride, took two hours. And it took another 2 1/2 to get to my folks, which, again, is normally 40-minutes from my sis' house. At times, it really was scary traveling. But it was beautiful, and exciting, too. My sis and I marveled at watching the snow blow, knowing we may never see anything like it here again.
But once the storm had passed, we were left with a truly gorgeous white Christmas. I had about a foot of snow in my yard, with a little more than that in some areas of town. At the folks', they got a bit less snow than we did here in OKC. My youngest niece was so thrilled with it. She kept busy outside, filling my mom's bird feeders, and doting on her pet chickens.
Stepper said: "Sigh. Such a long build up, and the Christmas feeling seems to fade so quickly. It's like a coiled spring. It takes time and effort to build up the tension, but the release is so sudden and brief that you have to pay attention or you miss it."
Very well put, Step. I dearly love Christmas, and feel very let down, and even sad, when it's over. It's not only the holiday passing, but being very aware of time passing, too. We lost my most elderly uncle, a WWII veteran, on Christmas Eve. He had been quite ill, and was ready to go and be with his wife, who died several years ago. But it was still hard to say goodbye to him. During the holidays, I become more aware of my parents and other loved ones getting older, too. It makes me so sad, it almost ruins my holiday. I wish I had a way of dealing with it better. But I am so grateful to have a loving family and great friends like you to share the season with. I am very, very fortunate.
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Post by Phalon on Dec 30, 2009 9:06:54 GMT -6
Oh! Glad you made it through, Siren! We've driven in storms like that, and though there's that sense of excitement you mentioned, there's a huge sense of relief when you finally get there - so much so, you almost feel drained of energy when you arrive.
I feel the same whenever I visit Mom and have to leave to come home, especially this past year with all she's been through. Talking with her on the phone, she's the same Mom she's always been. In person though, it slams home how old she's getting. Our Christmas celebration with my family, though wonderful, was also kind of strange - it was almost meloncholy when it was over. Instead of all gathering in my brother's house, we celebrated in the family room of the rehabilitation/nursing home that Mom's been in since July. It was far from depressing - despite the setting, you'd have never known there was anything different than other Christmases. But afterward, instead of her getting in her big Caddie to drive home with all of us waving goodbye, we wheeled her in the wheelchair back to her room, and then quietly walked through the darkened hallways, trying not to disturb other patients (we stayed way after visiting hours). Sigh.
I'm so sorry about your uncle. I know you've posted about him here before; I wish I could remember the details of the story - something about him getting on his knees in his garden, I believe. Wishing him new found peace in meeting with his wife again. Great big hugs for you.
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Post by Mini Mia on Dec 30, 2009 17:15:56 GMT -6
Very sorry to hear of your loss, Siren.
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Post by stepper on Dec 30, 2009 20:58:33 GMT -6
Aw, Siren. I'm sorry to hear about your uncle. It's never a 'good' time to lose a relative, but somehow it's especially sad around Christmas. And I know exactly what you mean when you say your more aware of your parents at this time of the year. My mother was one of those people who reveled in Christmas. She liked all seasons and the things they brought, but she was a depression era child and in spite of their lack of everything - Christmas meant family togetherness and mom liked that best. Even in her 70's she found great joy in the noises a present made when she shook it. It wasn't so much what the thing was, but the thought that you took the time to find "it" for her. And of course, when the whole family was gathered around, dad would tell the story (again) about the year mom picked out a 10' tree for a house with 7 ' ceilings. By the end we'd all be laughing so hard we hurt.
And now they're all gone. Parents, aunts, uncles, all of them. But they've left us with a special, irreplaceable gift. Themselves. The memories of what was, and how good it was at least some of the time. It's the real experience of bittersweet for me. Bitter because they aren't here but I really would give anything for that 'one more Christmas', and it's sweet because they taught me to enjoy Christmas, how it's not about 'stuff'. Christmas "feels" like love. That's about the best I can explain it Siren, because I agree with you. As you said: "I am very, very fortunate."
Me too.
Which means Phalon, you had a great Christmas. Good for you my friend. Good for you.
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Post by quettalee on Dec 30, 2009 23:38:13 GMT -6
Thinking of you all as I read the beautiful stories full of memories of times gone by and feeling your sadness, too, for the changes that time just keeps pushing us to face, whether we want to or not. I didn't do much for the holidays again this year. I thought about it. I even ventured out to the garage and looked at the boxes full of lights and decorations, just like I did in October, looking at the Halloween decorations. Some of boxes are leftovers from the Christmases I remember with my sweet grandma. I know I've said it before, but she was one of those dear souls that walked her entire life on her christian path, always looking for the good in everything and everyone. She loved Christmas and loved decorating the whole house with lights and poinsettias and her beautiful nativity scene that always sat on the top of the TV. Over the years, the ornaments that I inherited from her have either been broken or are so brittle that I stopped using them many years ago. I also looked at the yard decorations that Mary liked so much...the two mechanical deer with white lights--one whose head moves slowly up and down to the ground. And the elephant that she bought for me two years ago that also moves its head up and down and looks like she's balancing a package on the end of her trunk. There are also two dozen or so lighted candy canes and snowmen that she used to line the driveway and sidewalk... I just couldn't stand the thought of pulling out those decorations and putting them up by myself. It was something that we always did together. I guess this year was just too soon. In the end, the little three-foot fiber optic tree was enough. Maybe I shouldn't be adding this post. I guess it sounds like I'm feeling sorry for myself. And maybe I am. It's raining tonight...something about rain in December that just makes the heart a little heavier. It hasn't really been a harsh winter here...yet...but I know we haven't seen five days of sunshine in the past two months! I could almost deal better with the bitter cold if I had the sun in the daytime and some clear skies at night so I could at least see the stars. OK, OK. Enough pouting and being melancholy... I need the serenity of that blanket of white covering everything...making it all peaceful and calm. *sigh*
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Post by Phalon on Dec 31, 2009 11:05:30 GMT -6
You always have just the right thing to say, Stepper. Beautiful post, filled with what sound like beautiful memories. Wishing you all the best in this upcoming year. And Sis...look how far you've come in a year. Good things are ahead too. Hope you get your clear skies tonight; there's supposed to be a full moon. Bringing in the new year with a big, beautiful full moon in the sky is far better than any firework display, and leaves a warm feeling more heady than a glass of champagne. Cheers to you, Sista Q. Happy New Year's to everyone else too! Oh, and who does this remind you of? Remember the little brother in "A Christmas Story" so bundled up he couldn't move and needed help getting up off the ground. BP and I had our cross-country ski adventure yesterday. Oh, my gosh, we had so much fun. She got fits of the giggles every time she fell....which was fairly often, and I'd have to pull her out of the snow because she was laughing so hard.
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