Christmas my way.

Check it out! I couldn't have done that if I'd been trying.

If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know by now that I do not relish being single.  That’s especially true during the Christmas season.  My thoughts on the subject are diverse and random and sometimes confusing, even to me.  I hope they make sense.

• I love buying gifts for my daughters and grandchildren.  But I miss having a husband to share the excitement with me.  That’s not necessarily to say that I miss having D to share.
• I made my first batch of toffee last night.  That means the season is really upon me.  Each batch makes two pounds and I will make several more just to meet the family’s requirements.  The irony?  No one loves homemade toffee more than my ex.  He could hardly wait for me to make it.
  

  Santa on his giant white owl.

  • I love this Santa and owl.  Wouldn’t that be neat?  If Santa came on an owl?  It’s  no more unbelievable than eight tiny reindeer that fly.  Is it?
  • I miss my mother-in-law on Christmas eve.  She took great pleasure in having the family for dinner and gifts every year.
  • On the other hand, my son-in-law’s parents have taken me in and I very much enjoy being with them on Christmas eve.  She’s a marvelous cook and he’s very entertaining and funny.
    

    Glorious Amaryllis.

    • One of my greatest joys the last couple of weeks has been watching my beautiful red Amaryllis bloom.  Daughter #1 (They’re numbered by birth order.) gave a bulb already planted and growing to each of her guests at Thanksgiving.  I don’t think I can take any credit for it, but she is a thoughtful and generous daughter.
    • I hate scheduling around my ex in order to spend time with my grandchildren on Christmas day.  If we could have had a smoother transition from married to not, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad now.  I accept my share of the blame.  But I think his share is greater than mine.  I’m just being honest about how I feel.
    • 
      This is a photo of a framed print by a North Carolina mountain artist.  Her name is Linda Kotila and she has a shop in Dillsboro, NC.  She’s one of my favorites.  The quality of this photo is not great, but the print is beautiful and I keep it up year around.  I love seeing the children and the dog gamboling in the snow.
       

      This probably looks like a rambling and disjointed post.  I guess that’s what it is.  But I’m glad I wrote it.  When I sat down to write I was feeling a little forlorn and lonely.  I still do, yet I feel better at the same time.  By going through pictures of some of my favorite things and by thinking about my situation, I have been able to realize once again how lucky I am.  I have family.  I have friends.  I certainly have more material “stuff” than any one person needs.  I have good health.  I have no reason to feel sorry for myself.

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