A BUMPY START

I realize I'm a little late sending out good wishes and celebratory statements for the start of 2020. But I have a good explanation.

My house has been hit by "the plague". 

For over a week, Sheldon has barely left the couch, much less the house. I do the bare minimum of what needs to be done and crash. We are running on emergency power only!

I spent New Years Eve in bed by 8:30, watching "Sleepless in Seattle" (one of the top 10 sappiest movies ever). 

My allies consist of cold meds, gingerale, kleenex, tea, soup, water and the pets. Sleep is much needed but elusive, rudely interrupted with rib racking coughing spasms. Yesterday, the sinus pressure had me in tears.  

But tonight, I feel like I'm turning a corner! Sinus pressure has abated and my teeth don't feel like they need to be pulled. Coughing spasms are ongoing but maybe, just maybe, I can sleep past 3 am!

2020 is off to a bumpy start for me. That does not make me nervous. It does rev up my Fight back reflex though! The next year will likely be a transitional one. I expect there will be a few bumps in the road, but there will also be some soft landings, victories and  time on the back burners as well. 

Happy New Year Everyone! Looks like I've survived the plague, I will survive whatever 2020 has on the table! 

A LIFETIME OF WAITING

Today is Christmas Eve Day! The air is filled with anticipation. Moms and dads are working on the finishing touches of presents and treats or prepping for a turkey dinner tomorrow. Can you remember being a small child the day before Christmas? How you didn't know if you could stand the wait? The exciting possibility that some Jolly Old Elf would be sneaking into your house while your were sleeping and leaving presents? 

Now think back to your first day back to school after the summer holidays. New clothes laid out, brand new books and markers, pencils and pencil crayons all just waiting for that morning alarm to sound off. 

Jump ahead again - the day before your wedding day. The arrival of your first baby, or grand baby. 

Have you noticed you spend a life time waiting? I don't run into too many souls who have honed the fine art of patience. But it's a good virtue to work on. 

I'm actually pretty good at waiting. For me, today is the best day of the holidays. I love to savour the anticipation of what's ahead. I will get up early, before the rest of the house is stirring, turn on the christmas tree lights and hang with the dog in the silence. Waiting. Just waiting. Of course, it's much easier to wait for something you know, without a doubt, will happen! 

Christmas is a celebration that is acknowledged world wide. That's pretty significant! We celebrate with gift giving, good food and connecting with friends and family. Why? What is the foundation? Why it's the Christ Child's birth of course! A whole multitude of Angels announced his arrival "Glory to God in the Highest! And on Earth Peace and Good will to ALL men!" Jesus arrives wraps in a vulnerable form of a little babe so he can communicate with His creation His deep, relentless love. 

He's also good at waiting. He waits for us to call on Him, to ask for His help, to acknowledge His presence, to say Yes. He waits. 

He will spend a lifetime of waiting for you. 

FELINE COMPANY

This weekend, on a very rainy day, I opted to stay inside and get ahead on Christmas wrapping. So I dragged out the essential equipment, turned on "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and got down to business. 

I had a little help too. Actually DandyLion is not very helpful, sometimes more on the hindering side, but he's always willing!

Pets, they are good company. They want to hang out with you, be present or if you prefer the latest buzz words "hold space" for you. 

I had a flu bug this week. After a night of tossing and turning on the high seas of nausea I dragged my weary butt to work. Bad idea, but it's just part of my ethic. I stayed long enough to cover a meeting and ensure another was up and running, then I headed home and crawled into bed. Soon enough, a little ball of warm fluff was tucked in beside me. 

So here's to those pets we love. The ones that meet you at the door, that hang out with you and beg for scraps, that help you with the gardening or the Christmas wrapping. When they are gone we grieve big, and rightly so. We should never feel the need to downplay the loss. We loved them, they loved us back; it's that simple. 

I didn't really need that ribbon, Dandy....my wrapping skills are embarrassing. You could probably do a better job - help yourself.

I'M PACING MYSELF

Yesterday, I did something I've never done before. I took my daughter to get her photo with Santa. Randi, Soren and I all piled into the big chair with the Jolly old Elf.  Now, don't judge me - I'm aware she is a Mom in her 30's but we just didn't make a big deal about Santa Claus when the kids were young! Besides, I'm pacing myself!

Cause there's a lot to do over the Christmas season and I want to enjoy the moments without feeling overwhelmed with all the chaos. 

I started my Christmas baking: Rumballs, cookies and Biscotti with Almond and Apricots.

Oh, there's more to do - but I'm pacing myself

Morrie and I jammed at a little soirée. Along with my cello, we had a couple of guitars, a stand-up base and a mandolin. 

I have a Christmas concert for my parents to attend and I'm playing in another this Friday, but I'm pacing myself...

I watched a couple of my favourite Christmas movies: A Christmas Carol (the original with Alistair Sims) and Elf!

There's a few more I want to fit in but, well, you know...

This evening we helped Randi and Dan decorate their tree. Soren is beyond adorable!

I can't get enough of him!

Forget this pacing thing - time to over indulge!

USE YOUR SUPER POWER!

It is my suspicion that everyone has a super power. You might already know what yours is, you may even have a few, but I believe  we all have at least one!

Now being "kind" is  a Great Super power and something we can all do. But do you know how powerful kindness is? It strengthens your immune system, gives you clarity, calmness and a heart full of love! Your super-powered kindness benefits those around you, creating a positive environment and spilling far beyond your act of kindness, whatever that may be.

Super powers can run in families! When you model kindness, you raise kind children. Both my kids are kind and generous hearted!

And just look at these two happy dudes! That my husband Sheldon, one of the most generous humans on earth with Andrew who is one of the Best Huggers on Earth. Both are super powered with Kindness. 

So, here's the point. We are heading into the Christmas season. My word, how crazy are the stores, the traffic and even our own families?? Can I encourage you be kind? Wait your turn patiently, hold the doors open, read your child and extra book at night. 

Today, Sheldon and I along with another couple dropped off a couple of totes full of food and Tim Horton's gift cards to a few homeless people who, believe it or not, are living in tents. Sheldon sent out the word and many of our friends generously helped us provide for them. It's cold out there people, Really. Cold. And we don't have a homeless shelter (though we are really close).

Now, more than ever, it's time to use your Super Power!!

IT'S FUNNY WHAT YOU REMEMBER

I had a birthday this past week. No major milestone, just another year marking the passing of time. I've reached my 56 year on this earth and it got me thinking of all the things I've stored away in my memory banks. 

This picture was taken in 1971 at Lake on the Mountain in Picton, apparently when jumpers were all the rage. I'm on the far left squinting horribly. And a few things have happened since then! 

For one thing technology has exploded. I remember returning to school after Christmas break. I was in Grade 10 at the time. The fella in front of me in Drama class (Chris Baker) had the strangest watch I had ever seen. It was digital! We went from a manual typewriter, to an electric one. You would be amazed how much clackety noise a classroom full of electric typewriters can make. Now here I am with a Laptop and an Apple watch! And Pong - I can't remember whose house I was at but somebody got an Atari for Christmas and we spent hours watching those two little lines ping that little white dot back and forth, back and forth. 

In the early 1980's Caesar Salads became popular. There was no dressing to be had in a jar, you had to make your own, which included a raw egg and lemon juice!

I remember when Pringles, Wunderbar and those miraculous things called "ATMs" showed up. 

And music - I went from little 45s to full on record albums, cassette tapes to CDs (I never went in for those 8-track tapes...). If I was trying to record a song on the radio, that meant racing into the living room and hitting the "record" button on the tape recorder if your song came the radio. 

I remember when Elvis died, waiting in line to watch the original Star Wars at the theatre, and a whole lotta hype around disco. 

Perhaps my memory banks are getting full. There's a lot in there and I suspect it may be getting selective about what it hands out, not to mention how long it takes to find it. 

But I think I'm OK. I can still sing word for word The Boys are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy (circa 1976). It's funny what you remember!

OH THOSE GOLDEN DAYS

The Golden Days of October have come to an end. I've closed the windows and turned on the furnace. But oh, those were glorious days! 

My bike is now tucked away for the winter in the shed but I managed a few beautiful rides before I said adieux!

One Sunday afternoon was perfect weather wise and I headed down to the trail along the waterfront.

You wouldn't know from this picture but this was a very busy spot at the time! 

Golden trees overhang my backyard and this beauty was showing off a bit.

Then, we had lots of rain and lots of wind resulting in, well, this:

Within 5 days, the golden tree was stripped bare and there was nothing left to do but rake up her coat of many colours.

November is now taking centre stage with her gray moodiness and the promise of snow; quite a contrast from the dazzling last couple of months! 

But the shovels and winter coats are within reach and I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be. The Golden days are over and now it's time to hunker down - we could be in for a snowy ride!