Hi there...

…fellow Christmas celebrators and anyone else who might be reading! Whatever you’re doing today, whether you’re celebrating Christmas or just taking advantage of the time off, I hope you’re able to spend it with your family.

I have two friends here in Georgia who lost family members in the past week. Christmas just isn’t the same when you lose your mother or father the week before. It isn’t EVER the same. Although it wasn’t Christmas when I lost my mother, it was Christmas when she told me that she had been given 6 months to live. She lived for exactly 6 months and died a few days before my birthday.

I never know what to say when a friend loses a loved one. One of my friends lost their mother and the other lost a father. It’ll be tough for them to have a merry Christmas but knowing one of them, I’m sure she’s finding ways to smile today…she’s a wonderful soul and I can just picture her wherever she is right now telling stories about her mother. And I can imagine the pride with which her mother is looking down as she finds a way to smile this Christmas.

It’s tough to be happy when things really suck. Not everybody can do that but I’m sure that my friend can.

So, if you’re lucky enough to have your family around you, enjoy every bit of it!

I have one son and one sister with me. Pretty soon I’ll have a couple of kids here too. We haven’t opened a single gift yet because it just doesn’t seem like much fun without the little ones around. That must be why God made grandchildren, so that we never have to go too long without short people at Christmastime. As soon as our kids grow up, we get replacements and that is just so cool.

I got the kids a bunch of stuff because that’s what Grandma’s do. But I got them SMART stuff. I bought things that they could enjoy QUIETLY and NEATLY. My son bought them Silly String and drums. I think the best thing that I got them (from MY perspective anyway) is a portable DVD player. With that one gift I accomplished many things. I’m giving them a gift they will love, and it won’t make a mess and it won’t be too loud. I got something that will occupy their little selves when I need to do dishes. And best of all, I just got my TV back. No longer will I have to watch Matilda 3 times in one day. I’m pretty damned pleased with myself.

Every single Christmas my father sends a box of books to my house, one for me and one for each of my kids. This year when the box came I put it under the tree and went on my merry way. Then he called yesterday and asked me what I had gotten the kids from him. I didn’t know what the heck he was talking about. He said that there was a gift card in the box for some place called Gymboree. I told him that it was one of the only gifts that I would have to open on Christmas day so I hadn’t planned on opening it until then. I thought I had finished shopping.

I opened the box (the books are just tossed in a box, he never wraps them…unless you count US Postal Service stickers wrapping) and saw the books. No surprises today! I found the card and then I had to find a Gymboree. Do you have any idea how expensive that store is? It was ridiculous. Even if it isn’t my money, I hate spending so much for things that I know I can get cheaper ANYWHERE else.

I’m cooking dinner and I still have to get dressed so I should go act like it’s Christmas and finish taking care of everything.

See ya and have a great day!

Meg