Christmas Eve eve and the wind down

The gifts are wrapped and the tree up. The dogs snore on the couch behind me, oblivious to the fact that their pile of gifts, thanks also to Secret Santa, is equivalent to the pile for everyone else in the family. 'Tis a bit embarrassing, but I won't tell anyone. My fingers, and especially my thumbs, are stiff and sore from a craft project with a friend. I am even more in awe of the botanical lights down at the park. They are NOT easy to make, and even tougher to keep lit. It will not, however, be the last I make. It is a chilly 33 degrees outside and, once again, there is a burn ban in the county. The wood stove stands cold. So does the turkey that has been moved from the freezer to the fridge. It needs to thaw so that Morgan can smoke it (in his smoker, you sick-os) for the MacParty on the 29th. The entire family of the "older" generation will be getting together along with our kids and grand kids. I will do my best to remember the camera. The new TSO CD is playing (thanks, Sunshine). I love TSO and hope that next year I will get to a concert. For now I enjoy the wonderful mix of orchestra and electric guitar. Amazing! So this is Christmas...

I have yet to pull out my copy of "The Watching." It is a story that has become tradition with the Corgi forum folks. Each year the pets (and people) that have passed on to the Rainbow Bridge become the characters of a story by Millie Williams. Up until this year it has been put on the forum chapter by chapter up to Christmas. This year, for the first time, it was published with the proceeds benefiting Corgi-Aid, which is an NPO that provides support for medical aid for the two corgi breeds and corgi mixes that are in rescue. I think I may be one of the few that have waited to read it. I have looked at the gorgeous artwork and admit that even it has brought me to tears. This year I personally know a few of the dogs that have left. I have been blessed to have healthy critters this year. I have been blessed to be healthy MYSELF this year. So tomorrow I will read "The Watching" and Christmas day will read it to the grand kids. It will then be lovingly placed in a safe place for reading again next year. I'm hoping that Millie will be able to continue this new tradition. I am sure it was a ton of work and will offer help from afar.

It has been an amazing year. The support I have from family and friends has been incredible. Slowly the bucket list empties and refills. Some things prove to be anticlimactic, some things still out of reach. I have learned a lot about myself. So much is only achievable with help from my friends. To my friends, new and old, I want to say "thanks."

And "Merry Christmas."

Song of the day? What else could it be?

"With a Little Help From My Friends" John Lennon/Paul McCartney

What would you think if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me ?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not to sing out of key.
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends


G2 (who promises not to sing)

(No tomatoes were harmed in the taking of this picture, although one did get thrown in the trash as it had gotten old and wrinkled...uh, kids? What do YOU do when things get old and wrinkled??)