Dec. 1, 2004
When you're a kid a week seems like a year, and the time from one Christmas to another seems like eternity. Why is it that when you grow up time seems to go at warp speed? I feel like I just put away my Christmas decorations, and here it's time to put them back up for another season. I do know that every year there is less and less I'm able to accomplish.
We always had a big tree, usually 6-7 feet tall and very full around. I'd hang 8-10 strings of lights...yes I like lights. (lol) Then I hang tons of garland, followed by over 100 ornaments. I know this because years ago I made each and every ornament. Next was my Christmas village. Each piece made by my Mom and I. It would take me hours to set up the village, light it, and move in the people. People dancing, ice skating, shopping. Cars and horses on the snow covered streets. Lights blinking and shining. Carolers walking from house to house. Then it was time to decorate outside. I'd hang lights on anything that didn't move. Only the dog was safe from being "lit".
My ex-husband was not a holiday person. So if there was decorating to be done it was my job alone to do. Once the divorce was over and I moved in with my Mother I still did the tree and Christmas lights, along with the outside decorations. But last year we both had to face facts. Neither of us is up to decorating on that scale anymore. Using my arms is not only painful to my FMS, it gives me chest pain too. So we called the donation place last year and had them take the reee, the trimmings, the lights, even the Christmas village.
Yesterday we hauled out the "tree". A 4 foot fiber optic table top version. "Decorating it" consisted of smooshing the branches back in place and aligning the tinsel from last year. Next was the outside. I hung poinsettia garland around the front door and hung lights too. Since I still had 2 extra strings I put them on some of the bushes along the sidewalk. In the old days the whole house was outlined, trees, shrubs, and sidewalk covered. Oh well, it looks good enough this year. Just the little we did was enough to wear us both out. It doesn't begin to look like Christmas's from the past, but it's the best we can accomplish this year.
Dec. 12, 2004
I'm sitting here at my desk fuming, ready to rip someone's head off. There's nothing that makes me madder than being charged for something I shouldn't be charged for in the first place. I get home from getting my flu shot this morning...after hours waiting in a long line....only to see I'm being charged a service charge and late fees on a credit card I paid in full...ON TIME. Naturally when I call I'm told, "sorry nothing we can do. You need to have it in the mail 7-12 days before it's due." When I told them I DID mail it 7 days before it was due I got no response. My first impulse is to rip up the card and tell them where they can put it. In fact, the more I think about it the madder it makes me. Probably before Monday I'll end up doing just that.
Dec. 19, 2004
I love everything about Christmas. I love the brightly lit trees twinkling in the windows. I love the tinsel glittering in the sun. I love the fact that for once a year people are nice to one another. Ok, so maybe not in south Florida. (lol)
I was playing cards with my Mom tonight, humming Christmas songs to myself, when I got to thinking. I know, this is dangerous, especially for me! Has anyone ever listened to the words in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"? Really listened? If this isn't the song to describe human nature nothing will.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer : Lyrics
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.
This sounds simple enough. A nice reindeer with a nose problem.
All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.
Poor Rudolph is different. We mustn't be different in this world!!
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
So typical. No one wants you around until you can do something for them!
Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!
I'd like to think the other reindeer realized what a nice guy Rudolph really was. But somehow I wonder if after the Christmas season was over, if they all continue to make his life miserable. Poor Rudolph, he was different.
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