The nicest thing happened during the holidays.

During the holidays Karin (Terry's Ex) called me and started her conversation much as she always does. She checks on me regularly and still introduces me as her mother- in- law. Through the years I have came to accept that role with more grace than when Terry was married to her. It was such a traumatic marriage. Anyway I digress. About five minutes into the phone call Karin calmly says, "I won $50,000 on a scratch ticket yesterday. I got very excited and told her that was a life changing amount. I think my excitement was catching and she told me they had been planning what they would do. I was especially happy as Karin has worked as a waitress for more years than anyone can imagine enduring that job. When she and Terry were together she would quit for a few months then get another job, but since Dave I don't think she has taken a vacation. She certainly deserves this good fortune, but what are the odds?? Of course for me who buys a ticket about once a year they are zilch. I think it is Karin's one indulgence for herself.

She swears her friend Lenny helped her to get the right ticket. Talk about manipulation. Lenny has been dead several years now but when he was living he always rooted for her to win. She has won an inordinate amount of small amounts like a couple of hundred. Just before Xmas she won $300. She said," I told Lenny this was nice and I was grateful but to think BIG money." This made me laugh but I told her I thought this was big so thank the abundance angels and Lenny. I expect helping Karin win on lottery tickets is a side job for Lenny and he has an important day job which he probably shouldn't.

Christmas and learning to use a Kindle

Christ first. It was very peaceful for me this year. I think because I didn't have to do a thing except show up on the right day. My friend Sandy planned and organized the whole thing. Christmas eve we drove to Sun City and collected a friend who had recently moved from his home to an assisted living apartment. He choose the Elephant Bar as his favorite dining place in the area and it was a good choice. The food was great and the company stimulating. We then went to the Church of Joy drive through lighting display where they claimed to have 59 million lights. I believed it. There were themes and it went on for several blocks. It was all for various charities around the valley so one could feel good about supporting them. There were many cars funneled into one lane but Roger drove us safely through without a scratch to anyone's car.

The next Morning we all went to the movies and saw "Complications. Meryl Strep was very charming of course and Alex Baldwin did a good job . The story line was a little too much like "Somethings Gotta Give" to call it a really good movie but I found it quite entertaining and relaxing. We then went to Sandy and Roger's house to feast on her famous Italian dishes and way to many deserts. I felt really stuffed and indulged.
Robert bought me one of those nice warm snuggies to use in the computer room where I am often cold. It is cozy indeed.

Next I tackled a look through at the new Kindle. Robert whipped through the basics with me but patience is not his long suit. He can't seem to allow for the fact that my eyesight is dim, making everything more difficult (That's why I got a Kindle for heaven sakes.) Also my brain does not work as fast and efficiently as it used to,@#!&^^( Swear words and whining here) Probably I will find it much more user friendly than one would think at first glance. Amazon claims it to be their best seller of any product this year. Any way I hope everyone felt as peaceful and relaxed as I did this year.

The stockings are hung , the mantle and tables decorated and the Kindle is ordered. (A gift to LaRena from LaRena.) I rather agonized over this purchase as I have enjoyed our book exchanges and all the really good books that have been given to me, so very much. However my reading goes very slow nowadays as I can only do a bit at a time and it is very frustrating. I'm hoping with the Kindle I can return to my usual speed and comfort while reading. It sounds pretty magical, but I am sure I am in for another learning curve, getting use to it. I'm pretty excited about all the possibilities.

Yesterday Monika wanted me to watch her blowing snow and such on their city webcam. Once connected I had a very good time seeing her winter wanderland in McCall Idaho. Everything looked like the best of live Xmas cards. I had only been there in the summertime so it was a whole different experience. It is a very lovely resort town with it's own lake in the middle of it. Monika, (my grand daughter) is the city park manager so she works about as hard in winter keeping everything up and running as she does in summer. She loves it there though and all the people in town sing her praises, so I would say she has done very well. Terry was so proud of her accomplishments. Larena just got a new job closer to home and with a pay raise so she has done well too. Her present employer acted as though they couldn't stand to lose her, but they couldn't offer her anything better than the new place and it will cut down a lot of driving, so I am happy about that.

I got lucky at the scrabble party Sunday and managed to win all but one of my games and it was tied most of the way through. There are tough competiters their so I have to be on my toes. Today I am busy with a little housewrk. As if you know there are many choores at Xmas time and I must admit I don't get nearly everything done I want to. I hope everyone has a great Holiday out in Blogger land.

Birthday Bash

I decided not to wait for friends to e-mail me pictures of parties or I will be eighty one before I get out another blog. I've really milked this birthday all month. This being eighty if not so bad. Of course Dec. birthdays are always hard for everyone as they are so busy with Xmas. Still I think there was a realization of the passing of time, as I got stacks of cards and phone calls. Then Lisa had a party for me that was like a Hollywood production. She had her house decorated for Xmas and did a beautiful creative table. I came home loading with gifts. The next day Robert brought me a bouquet of tulips. They were red and opened up so pretty. In all my years I have never received tulips and and didn't realize what a lovely cut flower they can be.

The next day Joyce and Ejner came from Salt Lake and took me to lunch. They brought two dozen red roses and more dishes. My cupboards are stuffed as I love pretty dishes. It is an entertainment set. Guess she has forgot I don't entertain as much as I used to. Hardly at all in fact. Still the set made me happy. Following that day Sandy and Mary Jane had a fancy breakfast for me. Last night Sonney and Bill had a combo, birthday and Christmas party with all the friends I used to work with , so you see I didn't lack for attention. Oh yes Randy and Lucinda bought me a special pair of shoes that worked well with my bunion and crooked toes. It was a darn good thing as I got out all my fancy shoes I usually wear with Christmas finery and couldn't walk in any of them. I would have had to go bare foot or in house shoes. Anyway you can see I got enough attention. Still all the wishes on the family site made me happy. Oh yes and Sandy bought me a Susan Boyle tape that is very beautiful.

Well, there is a down side to being eighty alwso. can't tell if your make up and hair look okay and jewlry is hard to put on, to say nothing of panty hose. Still I am blessed

My Ex Husband sent me a clever card, saying "Where did our youth go?" Punch line inside "I don't know I can't even find my dentures." Frtunately for him he desn't were the pesky things. It is still fun to have a Birthday and I feel appreciated. Eighty does seem much older than sixty nine though.

Ah, shucks

I tried to get the image right on my last blog and it turned out to be a dud. I didn't know how to fix my silly header but please click on the photo to see how pretty this really is. I have high hopes of improving my skills in 2010. I wonder if Santa has a package in his bag called, Bogging skills for dummies.

The legend of the humming bird.

The legends say the humming bird floats free of time. carrying our hopes for love joy and celebration. The Humming bird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, there is beauty every where. Every personal connection has meaning, and that laughter is life's sweetest creation.
As you get older the holidays are such a mixed blessing. There are so many touching contacts and fun things to do. Each day I think of all the wonderful people who have passed through my life(most are still connected) and I think of some little thing I would like to do for them to show my appreciation for how very much each one has enriched my life. My limited sight and energy just doesn't allow me to get everything done. Still for all who happen to see the message of the humming bird I wish love, joy, the beauty of the holidays, and most of all laughter, life's sweetest creation.

Feelings of Christmas

It seems I always have to go through a certain amount of melancholy feelings before I can really feel the joy and fun of the Xmas season. The above picture is a Xmas card from Germany. I feel sad to think of the Xmases Terry missed while he was stationed there. His experiences there changed his life forever. In fact all of our lives. Worse is the happy Xmases he has missed by dieing young. My sister Melba, who was living with me died the day after Christmas. I think these losses sometimes hover around near the holidays. This is not to say we haven't had many happy times at the holidays. Friends have Christmas parties and kindly invite me. I can laugh and enjoy the Xmas spirit after a while. The best of times are when there are children around to be surprised and thrilled. I have enjoyed many of those great family times. My heart fills with gratitude as I think of those times.

Cheryl talking of cutting a total ly fresh tree, and the glow of her red lights on the Boulder Creek brought back happy holidays in Boulder, and some regrets of how I have choosen to live my life. Nothing is better than to take three little boys to the mountains to find the perfect tree. When LeFair and I were first married we went up by Hell's Back Bone and found the most perfect blue spruce tree I have ever seen. Before then or since. We didn't have electricity in Salt Gultch at that time so we decorated with really fancy balls and tincel.

Now that I don't get out as much to the stores to find the special gifts I mostly send money and everyone has to find what their heart desires the most. This is not so much fun. Chistmas time in the city is definately different than the country. Where I live I'm in a nice neighborhood but feel I'm neither in the heart of the city or in the country. (Although we do have many quail and the not so welcome rabbits come to visit. Frequently a cayote will wander into our yard.) Writin g and recieving cards is still fun and I make my traditional goodies. I'm an expert with fudge and pop corn balls.

Terry loved Christmas and even though we always teased him about waiting to shop until Xmas eve, he could come up with the most thoughtful gifts of all. I hope his spirits is visiting his little Grandsons in Illinois since they can't be with us this year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THE DEVOTED BLOGGERS OUT THERE.