Feeling the Christmas Spirit

Each of us experiences Christmas in our own way. Actually, in multiple ways I suppose. The first experience each year is most often soon after Thanksgiving, going shopping on "Black Friday" or putting up the Christmas tree. I now leave the thrill of the hunt for Christmas bargains the day after Thanksgiving to the younger and those with stronger legs and stomachs. But I'll never forget shopping with Andrea about 11 years ago at Walmart the Friday after Thanksgiving in Nebraska. We aced out a man in a wheelchair for the last drastically price-reduced crock pot! It brings a giggle every time I think of it. But this year, the kinder and less adventurous me is content to get the tree up as a beginning to our Christmas celebration. If I were an animal, I would be a cat. . .

and be content to cuddle on the tree skirt and bat around an ornament or ribbon when I got all slept out. And here I must give thanks to Dan and Jenny for setting up the tree this year and dragging the bins labeled "Christmas Stuff" in from the garage. We set it up on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and it occurred to me that when we retire and move to Watertown, I won't have Dan to help. After the prick of panic passsed, I grabbed Bob's arm as he passed us on his way to find a snack in the kitchen and tried to "share" some of the spirit of Christmas home decoration. Bob's middle name is Virgil, but I think it should be Scrooge, as he even repeated, "Bah, humbug!" as he headed to his recliner with snack in hand. I'll have to work on that next year. By now, I'm pretty sure I can cajole him when necessary. He'll be the reformed Ebeneezer one day.

Sometimes the Christmas Spirit pops out of nowhere and surprises us. For me, it came as I was pulling into a local SuperAmerica gas station (aka: The Icee Store). On the car radio I heard Kenny Rogers singing, "And she believes in me. I'll never know just what she sees in me." Well, I just melted and filled with thankful tears. I had to stop the car, breathe deeply, and wipe my eyes in order to park. This song is about a man who comes home late and tries to slip into bed without waking his wife. He has been working at a singing career for a long time without feeling he has made much difference in doing so. ". . . with my little song." The wife wakes and is happy to see him. Years ago when that song was played more often, I grew to love it because to me, Bob has always been the one to believe in me. Not that I've tried a singing career, but that through all the changes and time together, he has always been there loving me, believing in me. And so often I have wondered "just what [he] sees in me." It is this attitude in him that gives me hope in myself when I'm sure I am a failure trying to slip in unnoticed and fall into oblivion. He is the greatest Christmas gift, and all I need is to have him with me again this year. Like the Jesus, he makes up for what I can't do; he is my savior. And if I can't always love myself, I always do love Bob. Merry Christmas, Sweetheart.

My strongest childhood Christmas memories are of times spend with family. Sure I remember a couple of magical gifts from Santa, but more than anything, I treasure the times with aunts and uncles, cousins and in-laws. People is what Christmas is all about to me. I am blessed by the family and friends in my life.

Thanksgiving at the Andersons'

The holidays are all about family. That is what I am most thankful for. We had dinner at Ryan and Andrea's house, as is becoming our custom. It's far more interesting and convenient because it has toys and kids' rooms and Mason's bed for naptime. Janie posed with a tie that is as blue as her eyes. I love her smile. Here are Abby and Mason with their bright eyes and smiles. Mason did finally fall asleep after dinner. While Bob conked out in a recliner and most of the other adults played board games, I played a puzzle game with Abby, Janie, and Kayla. What fun! After playing until we were worn out, the girls went back to playing with costumes and I joined the adult games.

Nolan created a dessert Pilgrim's hat of the family Reese's peanut butter bars recipe. It tastes just like a Reese's candy, I swear! Nolan decorated it with candies for the unmistakable hat band and buckle sported by the Anglo men at the first Thanksgiving in 1621.

Ginger and her fiance Gerald brought baby Janice and Kayla to the celebration. Janice hardly made a peep. She loves being held, and other than nursing and getting diaper changes, that kept her happy. Kayla wore a ballerina dress and pioneer bonnet--which I got her to take off so I could see her face in this picture.

It was a fine day with family. We are thankful to be so richly blessed to live in this great country with all of our needs met. We have more than enough. We missed family who were not with us, but they are always in our thoughts and prayers. And we are blessed with the phone system and the internet so we can easily be in touch with them.

And AFTER the gathering ended, Andrea and I took Nolan and Abby and went to see Twilight, the movie. I'll try not to go into raptures over how much I enjoyed the movie, but what a surprise it was to have Andrea ask me if I wanted to go when I expected to simply go home with Bob. I had been wanting to see Twilight since it opened. Surprising how I was able to flip from the peaceful joy of spending time with family to the laughing-out-loud happiness of suddenly going to TWILIGHT, at last. And now to tie it in to Thanksgiving, I must say I am thankful I was able to go to an exciting movie that had an imaginative story with very little violence, no graphic violence, no sex, and great (though unknown 'til now) actors.

My answer to Andrea's tag. . .

I am: a sister to everyone who lives on this earth.
I know: happiness comes from following God's plan.
I want: to lose most of my excess weight.
I have: been blessed with a great family.
I dislike: other drivers.
I miss: feeling pretty.
I feel: I can do just about anything I put my mind to.
I hear: music in the written word.
I smell: of my favorite perfume, LeDix by Balenciaga.
I crave: Icees about every day or two.
I cry: easily, so people shouldn't be concerned when I do. It's a great relief at times.
I search: for valuables in sofa cushions.
I wonder: if I'm capable of overcoming laziness and attaining exaltation.
I regret: I didn't take more time to notice the little things while raising our children.
I love: the Savior, Bob, and my family.
I worry: that I might procrastinate too long.
I remember: loving, strong answers to prayers.
I dance: mostly in my heart these days. But I feel the music pulsing through my body.
I don't: whistle worth a bean.
I argue: it's never too late to live happily ever after.
I write: some pretty good stuff, but I'm out of practice.
I need: to live closer to the Spirit.
I win: when I accomplish worthy goals. Yeah, I know. Too general, but I've been racking my brain, and I'm tired.
I lose: when I don't use the talents I've been blessed with.
I wish: I were more outgoing and able to communicate well.
I listen: to Fox News and talk radio. And to the sounds of wind and birds in the morning.
I can usually be found: around the house. I need to get more active now that I'm retired.
I am scared: that others can easily see my weaknesses and failures.
I need: to be more confident and bold.
I forget: my debit card, my keys, my Happenings book, what I mean to do when I enter a room.
I tag: anyone who has the energy to complete these sentences!

Addendum: Senior Moments

Tee-hee!!!! I forgot to mention that last Monday I was wearing my jacket/shirt unbuttoned so my stained t-shirt was constantly in sight throughout the day. Reread my earlier post and maybe it will now be humorous. Plus, Andrea reminded me that Friday when I went shopping with Abby I left my debit card at home and had a near-panic attack at JoAnn Fabric's check out. Luckily I had enough cash to pay for the pattern and material there and a pizza from PaPa Murphy's. We can number that Senior Moment 3 1/2 and my forgetting about the incident as Senior Moment 5. This morning becomes SM 6; I forgot I had been confirmed by the staffer at Mercy to work a shift today in surgery. Mary Jo phoned when I didn't show up at 6 AM. As luck would have it, though, Theresa called in sick for her 8:30 shift, so I'll take over for her. With cutbacks, they most often call low need for the 6:00 shift, but today would have been an exception IF I had shown up at 6 and Theresa hadn't been sick. Now I'm just trying to justify my forgetfulness. Well, I guess I can forget about that! (Hope I do.)

Our Senior Moments

These past few weeks Bob and I have had some never-to-be-forgotten incidents that we can only label "senior moments." Well, we HOPE to not forget them. But you never know. I suppose that is why I want to write about them now. I might need a good laugh sometime in the future! I'm posting this picture because the expression on my face as I was waiting for Kayla to take the picture is such a great illustration of how mindless I can look without looking completely vacant! Last Monday I had some errands to run. I went to the doctor's office to follow up on my sleep study from October. I checked in at the Riverway Anoka front desk and sat in the specialties waiting room. I smiled at the other patients. When I got into the exam room, I whipped my jacket off so Olga could take my blood pressure. Dr Anderson conferred with me and we decided another sleep study was the next step. After leaving, I realized I needed a flu shot, so I asked at the family practice window. They sent me back down to the front desk, and I checked in with the same receptionist. Back up to the family practice waiting room, where I smiled at others waiting their turns. I again whipped my jacket off in the shot room, and went on to what I lovingly call "The Icee Store," which is the Superamerica on St Francis Blvd and Round Lake Blvd. A very cute young man smiled at me as I paid.

When I got home, I sat down with my Icee and for the first time that day, realized that in the morning, I had thrown on the tee shirt I had worn around the house Sunday. And that it had lasagna stains all down the front and center!! (See below.)

When I awoke Monday morning, I decided to read some, do my errands, and THEN take a shower. Since Sunday's shirt wasn't stinky, I would wear it until after the shower. I've always been one to comment, "Boy, he/she REALLY ought to look in the mirror before leaving the house!" when seeing someone with tight or immodest clothes and such. Yeah. I should talk! I'm going to try to remember to take my own advice in the future. Senior moment #1.

Senior moment #2 involves both Bob and me. We bought a 2009 Happenings book from an Anoka Marching Band student about 6 weeks ago. We used a few coupons, and wanted to use the Eddington's coupon one evening. We had agreed to keep the book on the desk in our computer room. But we couldn't find the darn book. We looked in our cars, on our dressers, in the stack of bills, in the kitchen, anywhere, and everywhere. We decided we lost it somehow and just gave up. We paid full price at Eddington's. Yummy! We haven't found a soup there we didn't like. Then a couple of weeks later, I discovered the Happenings book. It was (and still is) lying on its back in the top shelf of the desk, as pictured above. Because we couldn't SEE the cover, we overlooked it for weeks!!

Senior moment #3 is mostly mine, but Bob owns some of it too. Friday I returned home from shopping with Abby and dinner with Andrea and the kids. I unlocked the door to get in and went immediately to the computer room for something important (that I can't remember now--suprise!). When it was time to leave for the second sleep study later, I could NOT find my keys. Luckily, we have a spare set of keys in the kitchen. Friday and Saturday Bob and I both looked for my key ring. I tore my purse apart twice, checked the top and drawer of the computer table 3 times, looked in the sofa pillows, checked the JoAnn bag twice, took apart my Primary bag because it was near the desk, looked on the kitchen counter. Well, you get the idea. Today as I idly glanced about the room while sitting at the computer, I spied the key ring at the foot of a desk leg. Hiding in plain sight. Hmmm. . . . . Bob and I were still laughing about it an hour later!

I suppose I should tie this all up with some brilliant conclusion. I do so believe an essay should have a beginning, middle, and end. You know, I think I DID have a great ending, but I just can't remember it.

Here's hoping we all make it through the next week without forgetting anything too important, especially our senses of humor.

Red's in Coon Rapids

Yes, there IS a Red's Savoy Pizza in Coon Rapids. Bob and I took Kayla and met the Ritschels and Dan and Jenny there; that's when we discovered that although it uses the original Red's recipes, it is only a takeout store. It is located near Highway 10 and Hanson Blvd. After meeting in their parking lot, we decided to go elsewhere. We met in the OCB parking lot next, only to find the line waiting to get in was right up against the entrance door.

Can you guess from this picture where we went next? That's Dan with a fan decorating the wall.

How about from this picture? Yep. Mandarin Buffet. Here are Dan and Jenny by their water fall glass and koi pond. We all enjoyed our time together and left with full tummies.

Next time, however, we will make the trip to downtown St Paul to the original Red's Savoy Pizza RESTAURANT. Somehow, I think the pizza tastes better in its original setting. Still, I AM willing to try their takeout from the Coon Rapids sometime. More restaurant notes will appear in future blogs, I'm sure.

Update: Red's Savoy Pizza

Just a quick entry to note the good news that the same pizza Bob pronounced the second best in the USA (Red's Savoy Pizza), has a COON RAPIDS restaurant. We ate at the original location in downtown St Paul recently. But tonight, we are meeting the Ritschels and Dan and Jenny for dinner. I'll take pictures if I remember. I'm famous for bringing the camera and then forgetting to use it.