It's late afternoon of Christmas Day and finally things are still enough that I can sit down to write this post. I sent out very few Christmas cards this year; I was too busy spending the day with all those folks working on my townhouse. That's my excuse for now--guess next year I'll have to … Continue reading Happy Holidays from My House to Yours
Christmas stories
Bittersweet Christmas
It's just a week until Christmas and we feel ourselves get caught up in the anticipation and expectations of idealized holidays. Years ago I realized how difficult Christmas can be. My father died of a massive heart attack on December 13. I was just twenty-two years old, working in my first nursing position after college. … Continue reading Bittersweet Christmas
Real and Imagined
Back in the fall, I was walking to the park with my three-year old grandson, Baker. A bird flew passed us and Baker said to me, "Grammy, birds are my friends." I looked at the delight on his face, watching the bird headed to a nearby branch of a crepe myrtle tree. "How do you … Continue reading Real and Imagined
Year of Waiting
2021 has been a year of waiting; the coronavirus has forced changes around our world, impacting us collectively and personally. We've waited for news of improving conditions, for the lockdown to be lifted, flights to open up. We've waited at bedsides, outside of windows of elderly nursing home residents, at the safe-six-foot-distance in grocery lines. … Continue reading Year of Waiting
Going Home for Christmas
We're finishing out the Christmas holiday. I'm struck by how our lean celebration has left me with distinct memories and a restful feeling that I've never had after Christmas. In past years, our family typically had three days of celebration: Christmas Eve with our immediate and church families, Christmas Day with our immediate and Riddle … Continue reading Going Home for Christmas