“He who lights his [candle] at mine receives light without darkening me.”
Posted December 17, 2020 by katryCategories: Uncategorized
Yesterday was freezing, and I had a busy day. The post office was first. I went to mail the packages which should have gone out with the rest of them on Monday, but I had left in my trunk. Priority mail won’t make it by Christmas the clerk told me. I asked how I could have a guarantee. He said pay $100.00, and everyone behind me in line laughed. I didn’t pay. The other two stops were medical; well, one was dental. They found a tooth which needs a crown.
Around nine last night the snow started. It came whipping down sideways from the north. I know that because when I ran across the street to get my mail, my face got pelted. I put up my hood. My face still got pelted. The car had a snow layer which looked icy. I was careful.
When I woke up this morning, I could hear the rain. What snow there is looks ugly, pitted. When I went to get the papers, I left footprints in the slush, and the bottoms of my flannel pants got wet. The streets have two tire tracks filled with slush. It is an ugly day. The rain will turn into snow later, but the amount is iffy. The paper had this description of today’s weather, ” Windy with wet snot at times.”
I have housekeeping chores today. There is a pile of boxes to be put into the car and one trash bag for the trunk. I hate the clutter. Two packages came today. I found the first wrapped in plastic on the steps. I could see the slushy footprints of the delivery man. Henry alerted me to the second delivery. There was a package from Target on my steps delivered by a regular driver in a regular car who waved: it was sort of odd. One box has a gift for my sister. I’ll just readdress the box and sent it along. The other has a Christmas vinyl tablecloth with the best colors and wonderful designs of Santas, trees and stockings. It is a just in case keeper. I also bought some socks.
Today is dark so the living room is night time lit. The tree is on as are candles around the room. On the hearth is a winter scene, a birthday gift this past year. It nicely lights up that side of the fireplace. My painted gourd is lit as are a wooden star and twigs with lights among pussy willows. The low light in the room, the quietness of it all, gives me a sense off comfort. I like to sit there in the living room. Jack likes to sleep on the anti-scratch chair cover, there because of him, a bit of irony. Henry sleeps on the rug. He knows to stay off the living room couch.
I’ve been playing Christmas albums on my record player. I love the sound, scratches and all. Do I need to mention the album my classmates and I made with Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadiens? I played that album first. The one early note in Winter Wonderland is my celebrity moment.
That Christmas Feeling: Perry Como
Posted December 15, 2020 by katryCategories: Uncategorized
Okay, not crazy or odd but it’s Perry. You have to have Perry Como at Christmas.
Dasher With The Light Upon His Tail: Kitty Wells
Posted December 15, 2020 by katryCategories: Video
“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.”
Posted December 15, 2020 by katryCategories: Musings
Yesterday I got everything ready for the car and UPS, but just as I carried out the first boxes, it started to rain. I had to make two more trips to the car in the rain. I got wet. I was unhappy. When I got to UPS, there was a line. I grabbed my folded grocery cart, put two of the bags in and took my place at the end of the line. In about five minutes I was in the middle of the line. I ran to the car and got more bags. I also dropped my glasses which I had taken off in the rain. I stepped on them. They now sit askew on my face, but if I lean my head, I can see straight. I just have to remember not to nod because the glasses fall off when I do. I have an appointment at my eye doctor’s office today as I am being driven crazy by these glasses.
The gifts are wending their way to the north, the south and the west. Last night my tree was lit in the living room. The Merry Christmas sign is on the front door. It’s time for the official start of my Christmas season.
We are under a major storm warning, that would be a major snow storm warning. They are predicting 8-12 inches. It will start late tomorrow night. I have to go out anyway today so I’ll do bit of last minute storm shopping but not for bread or milk. I’m thinking a dip or two, some chips, ice cream, which is snubbing my nose at the cold and snow, and more eggnog.
When I was a kid, Christmas was a process in time. The windows and outside bushes got lights first. I was so excited to help my father. I remember standing outside holding the strands while my father wound the lights through the front bushes. I also remember running in and out of the front door so I could get a good look at the lights. The outside bulbs were big, colored lights. The windows had orange bulbs, a universally favored color. Nobody had white lights or even white candles in the windows. My childhood Christmases were filled with lights and bright colors. I still put colored lights outside, and this year the bulbs are huge from two new sets of LED lights. My Christmas trees always have a combination of lights. In the middle are the white lights like stars shining through the tree. The rest of the lights, the colored bulb sets, are wound around the outside and the inside of the tree. I always love to walk in the living room and be surprised by my tree, a bit like being a kid and running out the front door to look at the lights and the bushes. Christmas is still wonder.
