Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
The Wreath
ONE CHRISTMAS LISA DROPPED BY WITH MY NIECE AND NEPHEW TO GIVE ME MY CHRISTMAS GIFT. BECCA WAS MAKING A WREATH FOR ME OUT OF BAGGIES AND A COAT HANGER, BUT SHE WASN'T QUITE FINISHED WITH IT YET.
AS WE SAT THERE TALKING , SHE WAS TYING THE BAGGIES AROUND THE HANGER AND HER MOM KEPT TELLING HER TO HURRY BECAUSE THEY HAD TO GET HOME. I LEANED OVER AND WHISPERED IN BECCA'S EAR, "THE SLOWER YOU GO , THE LONGER WE GET TO VISIT."
THIS BROUGHT A BIG SMILE TO HER FACE AND SHE VISIBLY SLOWED DOWN TO A SNAILS PACE AND WE HAD A NICE LONG VISIT.
IT WAS A SIMPLE WREATH, BUT IT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME AND I KEPT IT FOR YEARS. I EVEN BOUGHT MORE EXPENSIVE WREATHS AFTER THAT BUT I ALWAYS TOOK THEM DOWN AND HUNG THAT SIMPLE WREATH THAT MY NIECEY WIECEY MADE FOR ME.
IT FELT LIKE HOME.
My Favorite Christmas Carol
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Year I Ruined Christmas
When I was eleven years old I was a master at sneaking downstairs and opening presents and putting them back so no one would ever know they had been touched. I caught my mom away from home shopping one day and opened every present that I had under the tree. I knew there would be more on Christmas day so it was no big deal.
Christmas day came and we went downstairs and I looked around the room and the only presents were the ones that I had already opened under the tree. They weren't scattered all over the room like they usually were on Christmas morning. I did not have even one surprise. Even worse I had to open my gifts in front of my parents and feign surprise with each one.
Don't get me wrong. I had plenty of presents that day. I had a very good Christmas, it was just that I already knew everything that I had already. It was a lesson that I never forgot and I have never tried to find out early what a present was even to this day!
It's not an insult....
...TO WISH SOMEONE
If someone cares enough to wish you a "happy holiday", please don't give them a lecture about how it is a crime to say "merry christmas" nowadays. Nothing turns my stomach more than to wish someone well and get a lecture because of it...and that includes my comment section!
If someone wishes you a "merry christmas", please thank them and take these lovely seasonal greetings in the spirit in which they are intended.
None of them was EVER meant to be an insult.
Last night I had a lovely conversation with a woman who enjoys Christmas as much as I do - It was refreshing.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
My Christmas Festivities with the Governor Tonight
Eddie and I went to the lighting of the West Virginia State Christmas Tree tonight. We went early to accommodate my need for frequent rests when I have to walk anywhere. Luckily he wanted to show me the inside of the capitol because he used to work there, otherwise I would have just stayed in the truck and missed most of the festivities.
We went inside and there was a group playing bells and a lovely bench for me to rest. Then we made our way upstairs because he said he knew where I could get a good view of everything. That is when we discovered that there was a band and a tree in the back of the capitol as well as the front.
I was trying to rest on the railing when we saw the governor's wife and a security team go outside. I didn't want to miss anything so we followed them out. I thought they would be going down the steps to the tree. They didn't. So, there stood I and Eddie with the Governor of the great state of West Virginia and his wife and their team of people. I made my way to the side of the podium and I sat down because I could go no further. 
Then they introduced the governor and Santa Claus and lit the tree. Eddie and I made our way inside. We went to see if the tree had been lit on the other side of the capitol. As we made our way out the door at my super speed of mosey the Governor and his wife and security team followed us out onto the majestic front steps of the capitol. Once again we stepped off to the side as the announcer introduced the governor and we giggled to ourselves that we were in the presence of true dignataries.
By this time I was worn out and we went in and I found a bench and we listened to the bell ringers some more and then the governor came in and made another presentation for the winner of the state Christmas ornament. At least time we were just ordinary West Virginia Citizenery and not part of the heads of state.
It was quite fun.
Yah, stress test canceled!!!!
