An even better day

 Today my daughter, Mimi, dropped off my granddaughter, Eleanor, for an overnight with us while Mimi went on to New York on the train.`

Eleanor is 7 and much more interested in Bern than me.

She's much more interested in Brigit, our dog, than me.

But just being around her makes me joyful and full of wonder.

Someday, in a few years, I'll have the 'only child' talk with her.

Being an only child is a whole different experience than having siblings around.

I think I can help her recognize the good parts and negotiate the not so good parts.

I wish I'd had an 'only child' mentor....

Her being here makes the day special and unique.

A good day

 Today I ate well.

Didn't do much of anything except wash my clothes.

Finished a book called "The K-9 Citizen" by my favorite writer, David Rosenfelt.

And I watched West Virginia University (my alma mater) win a bowl game.

Besides that, I won 9 games of Hearts in a row on my computer.

A good day.

Winter vacation

I went to Trinity, Milton on Christmas Eve afternoon for a lovely Eucharist.

My face time meeting on Tues is cancelled.

So is this Wed's Bible Study.

I'm off on Sunday.

So I have nothing to do until a week from Wednesday.

It's like I'm retired.

Which, technically, I am.

I get pension checks--very generous--from the Church Pension fund and a 734 dollar Christmas bonus. Plus Social Security every month.

But I work, very part time, at Trinity.

I love the people there and get paid well for what is essentially 2 hours a week, plus driving time, plus Sunday coffee hour--always great.

I love my life and will be practically asleep until Wednesday next!

Not bad....

 

Christmas Day

     Bern and I are having Christmas dinner alone.

    Josh and his family are in California visiting members of Kathy's family.

    Mimi, Tim and Eleanor wanted their own Christmas.

    I understand completely. We did it too.

    Our friend, John, was supposed to come but he is sick and stayed at home.

    Strange--but not 'bad'--to be alone on Christmas.

    We talked to Josh and family on the phone and Mimi and family on Face Time.

    We are alone most of the time--with only Brigit, our dog, for company and it's fine.

    And I prefer a quiet Christmas.

    I really do.

    Silent and Holy....

    Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

 

The day before the day before

 I went to Big Y this morning early (9 a.m.) to get some thing for tonight's dinner.

I've never seen such a crowd in a super market!

I got in the shortest of 5 lines and was six back and everyone bought lots of stuff.

It took nearly 50 minutes to get out of there.

The traffic going home was like rush hour in LA.

Cheshire seldom has much traffic.

The day before the day before Christmas is a busy time....

I'''m halfway there

 I've gotten all of Bern's Christmas presents.

They're under the tree

All that is left is for her to open them and like them.

We'll do that on Christmas Eve when I get back from the 4 p.m. service at Trinity, Milton.

One of the members, C.O., got me a driver to take me.

Amazing!  

I just hope she likes her presents....

I'm dreaming of a dry Christmas

 I don't like the cold--I know I've told you that before.

And I also don't like snow--to drive in it walk in it see it out the window of my office.

Where I grew up--in the mountains of West Virginia--it snowed a lot.

Everyone had chains to put on their tires because it was hard to get anywhere without driving over a mountain.

Mountains and snow are bad news.

It didn't bother me as much back then, but it does now.

No snow for Christmas is what I'm dreaming of....