December....already?

Wasn't it just yesterday it was over 100 degrees and I prayed the a/c stays on?
Now it's just a few weeks until Christmas!
Where did the time go?
Right now I have a kitty I call Earl Gray
At my feet taking a gander up at me..
I still wish the cats would get a job--
Then I'd feel better about paying the mortgage...
In the mean time-
I still have a hankerin' for some
Pumpkin pie and Cool Whip...
The air of Thanksgiving can still waltz thru the house...

December 27, 1973 was Thursday

As the sun shines on this Saturday, my diary took me back to a Winter's Day in Iowa. Had to laugh because the eight lines I wrote, for this day, had to do with the opposite sex! Yes, indeedy. Both of them older. ANCIENT, but worldly to me and my girl hood best friend-then--and both in their 20's at that time.

Oh my, when I look back, one I'd known for years. His older and younger sister, along with himself, took dancing lessons from the same teacher I did. They were kind of the Dancing Von Trapps, but not really. All 3 kids, seem to be in every other dance at the recital, with the best dances. His younger sister was just a year or two older than me. I envied her SO much. Coolest costumes, best dances. And his oldest sister taught me piano for about six months when I was nine. I wasn't feeling the whole piano thing at the time. That came later--but that's another post.

But HIM. Oh yea. By this time in 1973, we ran into him at our town's tennis courts. My girl hood best friend and I both had a fit as we tried our best Chrissy Evert. I remember asking him if he was who I thought he was. The dancer. Yes he was. Looking back, he must've thought we were nuts. We actually set him up with our student French teacher. Can't remember her name, but I don't care. We just thought he was HOT. So on this day, he saw us as he drove past and WAVED!! The earth stood still.

The other guy I spoke of, was a substitute teacher we had in our 7th Grade English class. How do I remember it was 7th grade? Because all us girls, were discovering boys, but this guy was a MAN, and none of our male teachers looked like HIM. Ha! My girl hood best friend and I rattled on and on about him to my mom. We thought the gods were kind to us, because we had him for two days. In real life, he was the high school librarian's husband. We envied her, but weren't sure what we envied her for. Anyway, fast forward to 1973, this hunk was with his wife in some store--I just foamed at the mouth. And going to back to when he substituted, we girls couldn't believe such good fortune because during the days he was there, we'd all peaked in the room. Just to just get a glance of him. I'm sure he thought we were nuts too!

And there was this song that had been Number 1 until December 22, by Charlie Rich. He sang about The Most Beautiful Girl in the world...and back in 1973, we wished we were seen as such. Cue it up.

Tuesday Twink

Just two days ago my windows were open to catch a delightful December breeze in the 79 degrees temperature. Today--not so much. Right now it's 32 degrees, the heat is on and a couch awaits my arrival. Today we had a spit of sleet in Dallas. Not enough to shut the whole city down--yet enough to cause some havoc. And of course this was the day of our department Christmas spread ---yea, yea...call it "Holiday" if you will--it's Christmas to me, always will be--back to the story--I chose to bring a crock pot full of taco soup.

Yea.

I usually don't bring stuff to these things. Just give $ to chip in what ever somebody else is doing. Today, I just had to step out of the box. Today was foggy and cold--no 79 degrees temp to bask in. I pondered would I fall on what ice there was on the ground-flat on my back? If so, then the crock pot would smack me in the head. Since I take coumadin, I'd need 911 ASAP to get me to the nearest hospital because of my thinner than other people's blood. However, as I'd wait for the ambulance, the still hot taco soup would scald me.

Yea. Hey, I'm a writer. Imagination--it's what I live for.

Long story short--I made it inside--in one piece. Plugged the crock pot in and soon the aroma was the rapture of the room:" What is that?" "It smells great!" "When can we have some?" The taco soup was #1 Billboard material as the crock pot emptied before any of the other Christmas spread's yummies. Several folks, including my boss, informed I need to rustle up another batch because they didn't get any.

And ya know what? I didn't either and that's OK. Since folks enjoyed it, made my fret all worthwhile.

The couch, a blanket, the remote and a cat await--today's Young and Restless episode needs to be watched.

Evergreen Evermore

Realized today this Christmas season will a bit harder than most. My guess is because of buying this house. And it reminds me the last time I spent Christmas with someone who had my heart. The house I called "home" was in Iowa and the year was 2000. The last Christmas I spent with Dad.

By Christmas 2001, Dad had been buried two months. I was in that Iowa house for the final time. It wasn't the same. His gawdugly orange lounge chair set untouched. No cigar butts in the ashtray. No tree or lights. Just wasn't the same. My kitten, Perry, who had shown up right about the day of Dad's funeral romped through the house. I always believed my parents sent Perry to help in the grief.

So today, I'm out and about and walk through Christmas trees set outside a grocery store. Their scent hit me and immediately thought of Dad. Got a bit weepy. I didn't feel this way in years past. I guess, my apartment seemed so temporary. But the house. It's more planted. I realize crying as I strolled down the frozen food aisle wasn't a good idea, so I buckled up.

I remembered one Christmas where I was to bring our turquoise flocked Christmas tree from Des Moines. We were so into flocked trees! Strapped securely in my trunk by the tree guy. No worries until about about 7 miles out of my hometown, my car dies. I can't remember why, considering rust seemed to hold it together, heaven only knows.

What I do remember, is a mom and her daughter stopped to help me. They were on there way into my hometown to shop. I was grateful they stopped so soon after my car died. This was Iowa in December after all. Cold and snow abound. We got the tree out from my car and into their trunk. Or so we thought.

I settled into the backseat for the few minutes of ride. Something told me turn around. I sat speechless as my turquoise flocked Christmas tree rolled down the highway. Away from these kind strangers' car! This was a four lane road, and thank heavens nobody was going either way. We made a U-turn, got my tree and made it home safe and sound.

Memories like that will get them through this holiday. Hmm. I may get a artificial tree, so I won't feel THAT bad if a cat pulls it down.

I know I am blessed.