Keep the Coffee Comimg

The morning is drab, cloudy, windy and chilly. Showers are predicted. But despite the ugly weather, I don’t get to stay close to hearth and home today. I have to go out later as it is shot day again, pneumonia and shingles this time, the last of my shots. I also have uke practice tonight. Our first Christmas concert is tomorrow. Tis’ the season!

When I was kid, snow was an opportunity. Lots of snow meant sitting around the kitchen table listening for the fire station horn to blow to announce no school. We didn’t have it streaming on the TV back then. We had the horn. After the celebration for no school, we’d layer to go out into the snow. I wore a shirt, a sweater and my winter coat. I would cram my shoes into my boots. I’d grab a hat and my mittens then I’d haul my sled out of the cellar, but it was easy to carry, not like my bike. I lived on a great hill for sledding. It was tall and steep. About midway down, my sled would gain speed. At the bottom of the hill there was a road, and we’d post lookouts watching for the cars. A good run meant crossing the road onto the field across the street where the sled would stop in a pile of snow. I’d stay sledding until my mittens were caked with snow and my lips were turning blue.

After sledding all day, a cup of cocoa was the best warm-up. My mother used to put the cocoa in the cup, add milk, stir them together then add hot water. On the top she’d put a spoonful of Marshmallow Fluff. I remember it would melt a bit then spread and cover the whole top of the cocoa. It would also cover my upper lip.

My sister and I have discussed our Christmas trees. She is the slave of three cats, two of whom would love the challenge of the tree. I have Nala, enough said! My sister has decided to decorate her tree with only lights. I’m thinking I’ll put baubles, colored round ornaments of little value, on the bottom of my tree. I’m hoping Nala will might leave them alone, but I could be wrong. She is the consummate thief.