Merry Christmas and Happy Amazoning

I considered getting an ugly Christmas sweater, but I didn’t, and that’s OK.

I am not a traditionalist as I have always preferred my own ideas.  I do stick with the fundamentals, but just because someone from years ago thought it right to eat this or that over the holidays or put tinsel on a tree, does not mean that I should.   I have changed things around over the years and my family has gone along with it - mostly. The tree decorated with pink raffia, though, tested them.  However,  I am slowing down and that vast pool of ideas that I used to have has dissipated and easy (boring) is now my only choice.  I got the tree up, but not to my satisfaction. I thought of redoing it, but I decided to get over that. My list of presents to get everyone was so ho hum, and nothing special.  It bothered me, but I got over it. Some decorations are showing their age and should be replaced, but I look the other way, and got over it.  What we all are going to eat has not really been planned but I do have a number of take out brochures and Costco is close by, so I have a default.  It will all work out and if not, they will all get over it.  The good thing for everybody (and me) is that one of my daughters is in charge of Christmas dinner.

All the above are the trivial things that I stress about.  I cannot say that they are unimportant, but they are not my main focus.  My California family will be arriving on Saturday; my college age grandchildren will be coming home for a few weeks, and my sisters will be visiting. I am so looking forward to lots of hugging.  Love is what matters and laughter and memories shared is a priceless gift.  I am blessed, and I don't take it for granted.

However you spend the holidays, traditional or not, I hope that you have and receive joy.  I know how holidays can be very difficult for many, and I send you my love.  I am not a person of prayer, but I am of hope and heart, and you all have a special place in mine.  If you have the opportunity, reach out to others because, as we all know, the giving of your time is greatest gift of all.

Be kind to yourself and and remember you don’t have to drink that eggnog, eat the green mushy casserole or the fish with it's head still attached unless you like that tradition.

Merry Christmas and a Happier New Year.

Be The Story

While I huffed and puffed, I got the freaking tree up and I am doing OK.

It has been hard lately to get up the energy to take in the spirit of the season. Even without all the fa-la-la, I did decorate the house, this time being very mindful of what is taken out of the Christmas boxes and put up will, in a short time, need to be taken down and put away. I have always found that dismantling is a lot more work, maybe because it has to be done in a shorter time.  Less is best needs to be my new mantra. The holiday colors are on display but in what I call a tasteful and not in an abundant way.  It suits me now and is far removed from the once "deck the halls (tables, windows, ceiling, etc. etc.)"  person I have been in the past.  It is time to scale back in so many ways and I am pretty sure I will do fine with the new plan.  Besides, now I have time to enjoy the little things and think about what pleases me without the anxiety of go-go-go.

One thing that I enjoy doing during this time of year is to look for good TRUE stories that show the generous spirit of our fellow human beings.  I have a favorite, however, it is not a Christmas story, but good people don't need a holiday to show kindness towards others.  This narrative was published in our local paper last August and is about a gentleman who opened a car wash along a country road and wanted to bring attention to his enterprise. Drivers often missed him because for five months a year, a corn field blocked their view.   He decided to plant some sunflowers in the hope that people would notice them and his business. People stopped and started remarking on the flowers' beauty and how they enjoyed the scene.  As the years passed, more and more sunflowers were planted and with the help of two local farmers, the field was flush in the brilliance of tall yellow heads that looked like big smiles.  "This is my gift to the community", Mr. Frey said. With all the sad things in today's world, I'd like to think of this plot of good earth as a place where people can come for serenity and peace."  There are thousands of sunflowers and people come not only to look but are invited to take some flowers with them.  A lady who was there told of taking some bouquets for her wedding and reception a few years ago and now she comes back with her child to relive the memory. It just took a few seeds to sow this joy into the hearts of many. 

Just a seed, or a cup of coffee for a stranger, or any simple thing can make someone happy or maybe even affect their day or life.  It makes us feel warm and fuzzy to read these good stories, but think how much better it would be if we were part of the story, if we were the one who initiated the kindness. I have always found that it is better to give than to receive.  Blessings don't necessarily come from above, they are often from the hearts of those who care and who reach out towards others. 

If I don't have a chance to write another post before the holidays, I want to wish you all peace, joy and serenity in the coming days.  May the season of hope bring you many smiles - just like a sunflower.    








.

Well, Hello New York, It's Us.

Remembering back to last month and doing OK.

My Christmas gift to my family this year was to take them all to New York City to see the sights of the holiday season.  Fourteen out of sixteen smiled and said, "Great", although I know some of them were not as enthusiastic as the others.  However, they did not want to hurt my feelings so the tickets were purchased.  We live about 2 1/2 hours away by chartered bus and on December 21st, we all hopped aboard and I kept my fingers crossed.

















After two successive weekends of snowstorms, we were lucky to have chosen a Saturday that was sunny and warm.  We arrived in the city an hour early, so we rearranged the schedule and began our tour at Toys R Us (for the grandchildren) which is on 44th and Times Square.

 It was early in the AM so I did not expect it to be crowded.   Wrong, wrong, Wrong!  Apparently, word got out that Arleen's family would be there, and thousands came to join us.




We then proceeded to lunch at Becco's on 46th and 9th, one of my favorite NY restaurants, not only because of the food, but also because of their good, cheap wine.

After lunch we sprinted to Rockefeller Center on 50th and 5th Avenue. There we were greeted by what could be described as the population of a mid-sized country and they had also brought along 13 of their relatives.  Oh, how glad I was that I had that wine at lunch.  Here my schedule said "2 hour free time" and we all broke up into small groups.  Most of that time was about getting through the crowds.  We found refuge in the Museum Store and took our pictures of the outside scene from inside that very pleasant store.  We also bought a few wonderful items.




I was born in New York and lived my first 16 years there.  The city excites me, I love everything about it, including the multitudes of people and all its craziness.  My children grew up in rural Pennsylvania; they like hills and dales, fauna and flora, deer and birds and cows. Wusses', all of them.  Next time though, if I suggest a trip to NY, I will plan it for the spring when millions will not be there to see a damn tree that was grown in Connecticut.   (It was very beautiful though.)



We did a lot of walking, saw quite a bit, (Times Square was a trip in so many ways) and despite the crowds, it was a good day.  I had a great time, made some fond and funny memories, and will always love, love, love New York. 

Seasons Greetings

Shopping done, house decorated, presents wrapped, cards sent and I am doing OK.

I have been busy and in a few days my daughter and her family from California will be visiting.  I am extremely blessed to have all of my children and their families with me during this happy season.  We will laugh, share food, (even tofu) and stories and be grateful for all we have been given.  We will also be crazy (like most families) and if things go wrong, we will all find the fun in it - eventually.

I wish you all the happiness that the holidays can bring.  No matter what is happening in your life at this time, I ask that you look for joy, any joy, because that is the food for the heart and soul.  I have gotten through all these chapters of my life, because I have always had hope and hope is where the sun shines through all the clouds.  I can tell you that my heart has been aching these past six weeks and bad news keep coming at me daily, but I hold on to those I love and know that I will be OK.

Find a reason to laugh and love and know that it is presence, not presents, that people want, that it is kindness that counts, and everybody (even those who are invisible in our society) is somebody.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Seasons Greetings to you all.  See you next year.

See You Next Year.

Busy, busy, busy, but I am doing OK.


My daughter and her family will be visiting from California next week and my other children will be popping in and out during the holidays.  It will be about having fun with family and friends, feeding people and keeping everything going in an easy, peasy flow.   Easy, peasy, well, maybe that won't happen, but I am being optimistic.    I am going to take a break from blogging for awhile and will return when the new year comes around.

I am wishing you all a wonderful holiday, no matter what you believe or how you celebrate.  I believe in the power of love and that is the one thing that all cultures have in common.  It is what we all want and what we all need. So I wish you  love and may you all find peace and joy in this season of  hope.

Bless you all, everyone. 

Arleen

Postscript:

I wrote this before the news came out about the tragedy at the Sandy Hook elementary school. My title was Joy to the World.  That title seems so inappropriate now as we are all in deep sorrow. Such madness and unless we change the laws and the culture of guns in the US, this will never end.




 

Mrs. Christmas and the Freaking Tree.

My  tree is up and decorated and I am doing OK.

Eleven years ago my hubby brought home an 11 foot fir tree for me to decorate.  We had just moved into our new home and had a few rooms with 15/20 foot ceilings.  He was so sure that I would love this blankety blank monstrosity.  My family will tell you that I am very fussy about decorating and spend most of the holidays tweaking the tree until I think it is perfect.  Up until then we had always had 6 to 7 foot trees that even though I obsessed about them, I enjoyed trimming.  That year I worked on what seemed to be a giant Sequoia planted in my living room, for two nights, crying and cursing all the way.  Much of the cursing came when I looked in the other room and saw hubby comfortably ensconced in his old man's chair, sipping on fine wine and enjoying some sporting event on the TV.   A line in the sand was drawn then and there.

Next year I took hubby (kicking and screaming) into our local big box store and purchased a 7 foot forever tree that we have had ever since.  We also bought a carousel stand and when the lights are on, the tree will turn.  I just stand there with box of ornaments and let the branches come to me.  Life got better.





This year I have added something new that I thought would entertain the grandchildren.  Yes, it's cheesy and I am sure will become annoying, but right now I am enjoying it.  It is a frame shaped ornament that plays carols and whose workings are hooked into the indoor  tree's lights.  You do, though, have to be polite and say, "Hello Mr. Christmas" and have a conversation with the tree (so what's new about that).  Mr. Christmas will play the songs you request and the lights will blink along.  My only problem is that my tree is constantly spinning and Mr. Christmas, like many men, does not hear really well and when he is facing another direction, he tunes you out.

The first night we connected this acoustic marvel, I saw my husband running around and screaming into the tree, "Mr. Christmas, Mr. Christmas, MISTER CHRISTMAS and no lights went on and no songs were played.  In a spirit of the season, he said to me "This damn thing won't work" (and a few other choice words).

"Of course, I said, he won't respond to you if you talk to him like that.  You have to greet him with a hello, and then he will listen."

When greeted properly Mr. Christmas played Joy to the World, and hubby learned that manners can be fun. Fa, la, la!

Downloading Christmas

I went shopping on Black Friday and despite it, I am doing  OK.



I am not a shopper, but I do love to buy presents.  I pride myself on listening to my loved one's wants and needs.  I try to pick up on any of their hints and then read all the news on the latest and the greatest gifts of the season.  By October, I usually have some good ideas.  This year though, I have nada, nil, zippo, nothing, not even a clue what to get. 

Everybody seems to be obsessed with their latest phone, tablet or laptop.  Their lives appear to revolve around being connected through social media.  I have watched people at social gatherings who look like they are engaged in a conversation, casually glance at their phones (which they always have not far from their fingertips) every few minutes.  Right now three of my grandchildren are sitting in my family room playing on their hand-held devices with the oldest one multitasking on three.  Games they enjoy to play no longer come in a box but are downloaded.  It seems that so much can be acquired instantaneously and people's needs satisfied with a click of an app.  Santa Claus no longer has to travel all that distance on Christmas Eve, Apple and Amazon have taken his place.  The old guy has been outsourced.

This holiday season will be different.  I have always enjoyed wrapping and giving gifts with beautiful paper and ribbons.  It is a way to tell the people I love how special they are to me.  This year though I am perplexed, because how do you wrap an app?