In the Rain..

After I got home from work and did a little exercise, with the prayer I drop about a million dress sizes overnight--I headed to The GoodWill, up the street. Since I discovered my 'inner crafty' I wonder about experimenting with paint and decoupage on wood--the whole plaque thing 2.0.

For 19 bucks and some change I found cool, one of kind treasures. Solid wood. Different sizes. I looked for older looking plaques. I imagine their story. How they got there and from where. That's when the writer in me came out. It also amazes me, how pieces of china wind up at the Goodwill. For just pennies. The china is another post. I'll stick with the the plaques for now.

I surveyed the plaques. Thought of how to re-birth them. I mean, one of them is a wooden paddle with a bunch of cows painted on it...Did I mention it was also raining when I went to the GoodWill? The cashier packed all my goodies in a big, plastic bag. The size of my bag would surely rival that of Santa's.

I took good care of my treasures as I walked to the car and placed them inside. I did have two china bowls in the mix too. One was 50 cents. Told ya--cheap!

Well, if all excuse me, I'll call it a night. I need to peak in my sock again. Tickled how I stuffed my own stocking---sorta.

Stay tuned.

Christmas Eve 2009

And this picture is the view from my front door here in Dallas. Just like Iowa--almost. :)

On this day of all days, as I always do, I recall the spirit of Christmas Eve Past. Especially when I was a kid and didn't know my parents 'helped' Santa out during this night. Just could never get why they seemed to be so tired on Christmas Morn and why sometimes the milk I left out for Santa would smell like that funny stuff my dad drank: SCOTCH.

Or that first Christmas after my mom's death three months prior. It was iffy Dad and I would have any kind of celebration. Both weren't feeling it. Then I remember one day, Dad pulled the King Edward Cigar from his mouth and said, "Dammit, we're having Christmas." The next thing I knew, we had a tree and goodies under it. It wasn't the same, yet it was. The next Christmas Eve, I woke up to a beautiful piano in my house. Dad was shining it up. I hadn't heard anything, when it was delivered that morning. I still have it with me on this Eve.

Or the Christmas Eve, my boyfriend at the time--we'll call him Comic Book, due to his love for them, especially Superman, and Thor--and etc. Anyway, it was our first Christmas and we'd dated pretty much all year. Since his family, which we was not that close to, was in Louisiana, I invited him to my parents house. Our relationship was shakier than the Titanic when it met that iceberg, however on this night, Comic Book was a true little boy as he realized some of the presents under the tree--for HIM. He'd never really had such a thing. Considering my dad could NOT stand Comic Book, the gesture was grand.

Or the Christmas Eve I drove to Iowa from Dallas when I had sinus stuff, plus pain from my sciatic nerve. I'd already put off the trip a couple of days because I was miserable. Dad called me the night of Dec. 23, to check on me. I was stuffy and lie flat on my back to ease the sciatic nerve pain. Dad suggested--quite firmly-maybe I shouldn't come and plus the weather, blah, blah, blah. Of course, I blurted out, "It's Christmas!" Dad tried to sugar coat it how I could come back later in the year--when it was nicer. Then Dad, being the man he was said, "Well, you're gonna do whatever you want to do anyway." So on Christmas Eve morn, I didn't leave as early as I wanted to-still ached and sneezed. However I piled my stuff, desktop computer, two cats and me and up I-35 for a 750 mile trip, I went. Arrived around 9pm Christmas Eve night. Dad said I was his best Christmas present. And he mine. That was our last Christmas Eve together.

So on Christmas Eve 2009. I'm not back in Iowa, eventho friends opened their homes to me in Iowa and in Dallas. Earlier this morning, a chum was at the airport to fly to his parents' home. He'd text'd how there was a delay, so he sat. I called him at 7:15am and coughed and sneezed from sinus stuff and frog voice. We chatted until he got on the plane. Later he text'd his arrival was safe and sound.

Although both my parents are gone, I realize on Christmas Eve 2009. their spirits warm this house.

Some things aren't the same, yet they still are.

I am blessed.

Tis the Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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.