valeriesbookofme

  Ogilvy's Christmas window with thanks to Pinterest I hadn't really been very much in the Christmas spirit after US Thanksgiving this year. Tiredness, a feeling that it was all too much. And then, slowly, as the neighbors' Christmas decorations went up, as the Christmas songs and carols started playing on the radio, memories crept in. When my granddaughter performed in our local Nutcracker here in Sierra Vista--four years' worth of memories. When we had ward Christmas dinners with turkey and all the trimmings in Toronto--another four years' worth of memories. Concerts in Toronto and Laurie and I dressing up to go to them—the “professional” Nutcracker performances. Going farther back, to when I was 18-19-20, going to Radio City Music Hall in New York with my sister and her family, seeing the annual Christmas movie and live stage performances, then walking over to the Lincoln Center and watching people skating on the skating rink. Much farther back, to as early as I

These are very disjointed musings. A kind of Virginia Woolf essay ;) It’s sobering to look back at the things I wrote 10, 13 years ago and see that I am still mulling over the same issue--what do I want to accomplish in this final quarter and a bit stage of my life--if I live to be 100. And WHY do I feel it's a "struggle" to think about, to action projects and supposed goals and why do I (Richard too for that matter) get stressed about it?  Looking back to ten years ago I was settling into our first house (a rental) here in Sierra Vista. I was busy learning about the community, the folk at church, helping Laurie out because the kiddos were still young--M was 7, Porter 6, Jameson 4 and Quinn was 9 months. I subbed in the schools. I was very busy indeed. It was why I had wanted to move here; my own goal had been to be closer to Laurie and Richard acquiesced because there was a job there.  As I look at it, parts of my life today are still like that although I have let go of

 Have just finished reading what I wrote on “December 5ths past” in my private journal. About the little Christmas tree I have had for years and year; it's one I bought in Vancouver in a chocolate shop. About reconnecting with Jacqui last year--and that’s been SO great. About being isolated because of COVID. Well, the little Christmas tree is on a table in our living room again, counting off the days until Christmas. And, after giving our very large one to Laurie last year, we have a smaller 4’ tree in the living room this year. We put up our outdoor lighted wreaths yesterday. I had read “Skipping Christmas” this year and decided that, no, I don’t want to “skip” Christmas, just downsize it a bit. Although R and I have not done “big” Christmases for years now.  And we aren’t having to isolate because of COVID anymore although folks are still getting it. I wrote last year that we were hoping for a vaccine and, yes, it arrived and I was able to get the double dose February and March.