” When you think you have enough lights on your tree, add two more strands.”
The morning is a delight, bright and sunny and calm. It is a warm day, in the high 40’s. The dogs love this weather and stay outside a long while. I check periodically. Henry sniffs the yard. Nala does a zoomie or two.
My wounds are now black and blue. They are healing. When I’m in a store, people see my face and turn away. I don’t know if it is politeness or horror. Maybe it is a little of both.
Yesterday was a busy day. I was out and about doing errands. I made seven stops, most in the morning. My laundry is put away, the trash is dumped, the dogs have food, my car has gas, and I bought a few groceries for me including more grape-nut custard. I got to eat it before Nala did. It was a banner day but an exhausting day.
At the beginning of December when I was a kid, we had an advent wreath, an evergreen wreath with four candles around it and one more candle in the middle. Each of the four candles represented an Advent Sunday, the countdown to Christmas, so the first candle was lit on the first Sunday of Advent and an additional candle was lit every week until all the candles were lit. The middle candle was lit on Christmas Eve. We had a sheet from school with the prayers to be said as we lit the candles. I remember standing around the wreath while the prayers were said. I don’t remember a single prayer. I remember having to take turns lighting the candles and being mesmerized by the flickering flames.
We had bubble lights on our Christmas tree. They stood up straight at the ends of the branches. The bottoms of the lights lit up and were different colors: red, green and yellow. A small vial of liquid stood in the middle of the colored base. We used to sit and watch the bubble lights hoping to be the one to find the first bubbler. It was an every night contest. I have that set from my childhood, but I don’t light it. I’m a bit afraid of the old cord and whatever the liquid is. I do have a new set of bubble lights. I put them at the ends of the branches and watch for the first bubbler. It is tradition.
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December 4, 2023 at 10:06 pm
Hi Kat,
I’m glad you are healing. As we age our bodies don’t bounce back like they did when we were younger.
When you write about Advent wreaths, or Christmas tree lights you are talking and writing in a totally foreign language. I’m always glad that these things make you happy. We need some happiness these days.
I’m amazed that so many American college kids are siding with the Hamas terrorists in this war. The Palestinians in Gaza voted the Hamas terrorists into power. On October seventh they not only attacked Israel but went on a horrific rampage of murder and torture before killing civilians. They gang rapped woman and then beheaded them. They cur off the fingers of children and then murdered them. Some of these maniacs then sat down to eat the food of their victims. Taking civilians as hostages and using them as human shields has somehow been lost in the minds of the general public in just two months. People have short memories when it comes to murdering and torturing Jews. Hamas has spent money for years building tunnels to attack Israel instead of building infrastructure to help the economy and the people of Gaza. I hope Israel levels Gaza and kills every Hamas supporter.
December 4, 2023 at 10:24 pm
Hi Bob,
I am a mess of scabs. Two of my teeth are still a bit painful, but I am definitely on the upswing. I hope to play in a couple of concerts this week.
When I was growing up, we had great Christmases. We had so many traditions: the trip to Boston, a ride to see the lights, the tree and cookie decorating.
I always decorate, and this year I will give a tree a try despite Nala. That will be a huge temptation for her, the consummate thief.
I was stunned by the support of Hamas. I keep wanting to yell, “They started it.” I thought Israel’s war record would be a deterrent. Hamas as been barbaric yet they still look for sympathy when civilians, especially children, are killed.
December 4, 2023 at 10:55 pm
Unfortunately, no one ever said that life was fair. We have huge numbers of voters who still support Trump. Senator Graham said yesterday that If Trump doesn’t win the Presidency next year, then the world will be in bad shape. They think if Trump had won in 2020 the Middle East would be peaceful today. After all Jared Kushner had a plan to solve all the Middle East issues. The Saudi government has given Kushner billions to invest in his hedge fund. Where are these people’s brains? Do they sit on them? Do they take them out and play with them daily?
December 4, 2023 at 11:15 pm
They are part of a cult and have had to surrender their intelligence and free will. They have sucked up all the lies. Our republic is in danger if Trump wins the presidency. He is filled with vengeance. He will pardon all the J6 terrorists. That is only the beginning.