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Merry Christmas to you and Happy Blogaversery to me!

It’s been eight years since I first signed on with WordPress, and I’ve spent each of those Christmas Days by myself, watching my favorite Christmas movies and cuddling with my cats. My family is spread across the country, and winter makes it impractical to travel. At least for me and my elderly parents. My brother has his traditions in New York, so he doesn’t travel either.

But I’m not lonely. For any of you who are, I say a little prayer for you and wish you comfort. And for all of you, I wish you a Merry Christmas.

Image Credit: © krissikunterbunt–stock.adobe.com

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Getting Through the Holidays

Two weeks ago my dad’s wife of 21 years, Jeanne, died of Alzheimer’s. She had been going downhill for sometime, and he’d finally arranged for her to enter a memory care center. This one only houses six residents at a time, so the care is constant and personal. On Monday morning she entered the facility, and by late Monday morning she was dead.

I’ll be honest–I didn’t know her that well. What I knew of her I liked, and I know she made my dad happy. They got together a short time after my stepmom died, and I don’t believe they ever regretted the decision.

Since she died I’ve called my dad nearly every day. He seems to be doing well, although we don’t delve into too much that’s particularly personal. That’s the nature of our relationship. I thought he might be getting tired of hearing from me every day, but we almost always talk for at least 30 minutes. He was Jeanne’s sole caregiver for months and months so I imagine he’s somewhat starved for conversation. Plus, I’m his daughter, so he likes talking to me. I’m lucky in that way.

I’m reminded of all the people experiencing deep loneliness during the holiday season, whether or not they’re actually alone. My mom is one of them, and despite his efforts to get out and about, I imagine now my dad is, too. I have a friend whose husband of 68 years died the day after their anniversary, which happened to land on Christmas. She has family, but freely admits that getting through the holidays is a chore. 

So say a little prayer and spread a little kindness this holiday season. Your smile could make a difference. People who live alone may be reluctant to join your family for festivities, but a quiet lunch can be its own kind of celebration. Do it your way, but reach out.

Image credit: ©freshidea–stock.adobe.com

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It’s National Cookie Day!

Like any of us need an excuse to eat more cookies this month. I celebrated by helping myself to a few Christmas cookies a neighbor brought over (they were rejects from the batches she made, but taste just as good).

Growing up, my mom always made hundreds of Christmas cookies and mailed them to all our relatives, far and wide. Then she’d freeze a bunch–no room in the freezer for anything else at that point–so we’d have plenty to get us through the winter months. Okay, December. We’re a sweet tooth family so sugary goods never lasted long in our house.

I remember my mom had a cookie press for those fancy Christmas cookies. She usually died the dough green as well (not red, because the red dye in use up to that point had been discovered to be cancer causing). She made the round balls dipped in powdered sugar and we gobbled those down. We all helped ice the sugar cookies, and somewhere along the line we discovered you could make stained glass sugar cookies with the use of crumbled up Life Savers. I don’t think they turned out very well because we only made them for a year or two. 

I plan to celebrate National Cookie Day as often as I can this Christmas season, although I doubt I bake too many of my own. It’s hard to bake for one and already there are so many cookies at work I’m afraid mine might go stale before anyone ate them.

Bring on the cookies!!

Image Credit: © Svetlana Kolpakova–stock.adobe.com

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Gimme a Break!

Well, winter weather is upon us, even if it isn’t officially winter yet. So I’m once again forced to deal with one of the more foolish laws in my state, and that is, if you shovel the sidewalk or put some sort of ice melt on it–or anything like that–you can and probably will be held liable if someone slips and falls. So my apartment complex understandably does nothing to clear the way for those of us who have to go to work or simply want to take the trash out. Let me say this again–you clear the ice or snow off the sidewalk or stair steps or what-have-you and someone slips and falls, you will be held liable.

I’ve listened to our esteemed lawmakers try to explain this, and their excuses sound as lame as the law itself.  Frankly, I don’t understand clearly what they’re saying so I won’t try to repeat it here. I just know that in a majority of the states, the law either requires you to clear the sidewalks in front of your home or at the very least won’t punish you if you do and someone falls.

Which led me to wonder, what laws do other states have that surpass understanding? I looked this up and decided against sharing too many. Instead, I’m asking you, my fellow bloggers, to tell me about absurd laws in your state, or any other state, for that matter. Did you know that in Massachusetts you’re breaking the law if you’re over 16 and you swear at players or officials at a sporting event? Two things struck me there, first, I guess if you’re 16 or under you can say what you like, and second, seriously? Is anybody enforcing this law?

So let me know about the laws in your state. I could use a good laugh!

Image Credit: © photoschmidt–stock.adobe.com

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Caturday–Walter is Feeling Secure

We all need a little security. For children, it may be a blanket or a favorite stuffed toy. For Walter, it’s this scratching pole. It’s supposed to hang on a string over a doorknob, but the string broke off long ago. Now nobody scratches on it, but Walter hugs it close.

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Image Credits: Cesar Cat © Belinda O; Paws In Heart © Bigstock