Just as a puppy can be more of a challenge than a gift,
so too can the holidays.

~ John Clayton


I'm sorry to hear that Pres. Bush 41 is having such a difficult time. He's a good man. We are suffering here with what is apparently the same viral syndrome. We've taken to calling it Presidential flu. It has been going around, and we started our first bout at Thanksgiving time. We've done the cough, the nausea, the fever, the aches and the weakness. Then we did it again - and we are on our third round. Just deciding that we are better isn't enough. Mind over matter. Just suck it up doesn't work with this one. We're currently hoping that antibiotics do work!

Due to the persistence of Prezflu, Christmas and Hanukkah were cancelled here. I began to think about wrapping presents. And making shortbread. Sending out Christmas cards. Getting the tree up. How 'bout the lights on the porch? Need to marinate the turkey.

I decided to sit down and think about it some more until it was a reasonable time to take a nap. We finally decided that we didn't want grandchildren to get sick. Stan's mother at the nursing home was already sick - and NO ONE would be allowed a Christmas visit with her. And I was pretty sure I couldn't even LIFT the turkey.

We'll try again in January.
We have lots of birthdays then, too.
Makes a lot more sense.

So - Ho, Ho, Ho, y'all.
~T, 12-27-2012

Now I lay me down …

I don't come from gun people.
No one in the family ever hunted.
We were lake folk and fished.

I went to high school with hunters.
I also went to school with chess players.
Both were equally foreign to me.

I've always been grateful to police -
And military for their willingness to protect.
But I'm really squeamish about guns.

I'm not anti-gun or second amendment.
It just never had any relevance for me.
One way or the other. I don't know what to do.
But somebody needs to do something.

[And yes - I'm still somebody -
But - I really don't know what to do.]

~T, 12-16-2012

O Holy Night …

This is a great time of year. For me, Christmas is a religious celebration. I look forward to the spirituality and anticipate the joy. It happens in my heart and in my church. Knowing that it will always be the same, brings "comfort and joy."

Independent of my personal feelings for Christmas, a couple of other things happen in that same timeframe. It's almost the same as fourth of July. The family gathers, the love flows, it's the "hap -hap - happiest time of the year."

The tree goes up with a lot of handed-down, handmade ornaments and the familiar angel on top. Some came from earlier family trees that Stan and I remember from our family homes as children. A few were wedding presents! Then we bought some early in our marriage for much smaller apartment-size trees.

In the early '70's, toddlers looked with wide eyes on the lights, the sparkles and the shine. They learned that the celebration involving the tree is a commemoration of the baby Jesus birth. As they grew, the separated the story of Jesus from the tree. Both were important in different ways.

The tree became an instrument of family history. "Remember the elves!" "Remember when we made the strawberries!!" "Wow, we still have the cookie angel." "Wait!! It's Jean's job to put the angel on top." "Why does SHE get to do it??" "Because she always has!"

The tree is central. Everyone helps to decorate when the clan gathers. Each year we reflect on who is missing. We trash talk those who just didn't come home - for whatever reason. We miss those are are gone. While trimming, we always eat the same cookies [Grama Bette's anise angels - now made by Jean, Roberta Sachs shortbread and Grama Terry's peppermint meringues] - though we added peanut butter buttons when Dan joined the family.

When he was little, I loved watching Julian's eyes widen as he viewed the assortment. Then there was Gabe's excitement starting with the lights. And then Sam who marveled at absolutely anything, taking great pride in the handmade ornaments that he and Gabe added. Don't they look awesome, Grampa!

It's about family and memories. And as I said, knowing that it matters and will always be the same, brings "comfort and joy."

More Than Fifty Shades of Gray ~

I love the enigma that is winter in Central New York: the drama, the mystery. Each day dawns and there is always the question, “What's the weather like today?” Sometimes it's - “What's happening outside?”

It's always cold. Sometimes there is snow - especially if you live along the Tug Hill Plateau. Often there is wind, making the wind chill factor of interest.

But the real question is always, “What shade of gray?”

Each day a paradox. For example, today the sky is lighter than Cinder Block. I would call it dingy laundry gray. That Tunisian Taupe - that beige/gray that you get when washing clothes in water that isn't quite clean [frequently seen in third world countries].

So, the excitement builds. What color might tomorrow bring?

~T, 12-1-2012