Happy Holidays!

J and I would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday and we hope you get to have some time for rest and relaxation before 2008 begins. We will be thinking of our family and friends during this season of love and giving and we both silently wish for happy days to come next year.

P.S. As for intuition, nothing ever happened to me or J, but one of my girlfriends had her car totaled in a hit-and-run the night after I posted. And her husband dislocated his shoulder playing hockey. That's all the bad news I've heard.

Intuition

What is going on? There's something in the air.

I can't focus, feel so emotional. Having one of those sliding doors moments that B and I were just talking about. What if I turn left instead of right? Where will it lead me? I'm apprehensive of what is about to happen.

What is it? Why is this black cloud hanging over me?

Getting into the Mood

This year I have decided to enjoy the holidays.

This year I have decided to decorate the house and sing carols.

This year I went to a craft party full of laughing women. Eating, drinking, cooing at babies, swapping tales. Being in the comfort of women, I am reminded of my family. Their stories, their crafts, and I am ready.

This weekend I pull out the plastic bin labeled X-Mas and as I unwrap goodies I think about their origins.

Hand-carved Santas lovingly crafted by my grandfather for my grandmother (and passed to me)

Jolly wooden train in which small fake presents ride the rails

Stuffed snowman with shovel from J’s mom

Shiny tiled snowman won at white elephant party of years past, making me think of J’s sad face upon realization that it doesn’t plug in and light up

Candy cane candle

And ornaments for the tree- a mismatch bunch of treasures from grandparents on both sides, parents, gifts (blinking Steeler’s football snowman, our first Christmas 2003, felt skates)

All these items are only valuable to me because they remind me who I am, where I came from, where I’m going.

This year I’m going to embrace the season.