Oh God, It's the Holidays, Again

For some reason, the holidays keep creeping up on me. It seems they come faster and faster every year. The worst part is that I have a harder and harder time deciding what to do.

Last year we spent Thanksgiving with my family and Christmas with D.'s. Of course, this year my plan was to spend Thanksgiving with D.'s family and Christmas with mine. You know, the ole alternate year thing that every new family works out.

But, Thanksgiving rolled around much more quickly than I anticipated. Due to a severe lack of planning, a family illness, and my distaste for another week of driving across three states, we spent it here, which meant that Christmas would be spent, once again, with D.'s family.

They're fantastic people, and if D. turns out to be anything like his father I will be one lucky woman. I've never seen a more devoted man. Forty-six years of marriage and the man steps and fetches like he's getting laid every night. Yet, both being in the late 60's, and his wife being in poor health, I'm sure he's not. It's just full out, straight as an arrow, love. It's a lovely reminder that things really can work out in the long haul.

As much as I enjoy spending time with D.'s family I, of course, miss my own at Christmas. My family hugs a lot, laughs a lot, drinks a lot, and over all ends up pissed at and then loving one another again--all in a day. D.'s family does on Christmas exactly what they'd do any other day of the week with the exception of a bigger meal and a couple of gifts.

During the six-hour drive home today D. and I had a spectacular brainstorm.

We don't have children. We don't have any plans to have children. We're not a religious people, so we don't have to find a church for Christmas mass.

And, if for some reason, the children plan changes, we could still have our own little family tradition...

Pick a place and that's where we'll be at Christmas.

Just us. No traveling from family home to family home. Send the gifts via Fed Ex and call it a holiday.

I'm thinking Cape Cod where we bundle up each morning for a walk along the beach. Or maybe the mountains where we sit inside, drink coffee and read long novels. Or maybe Chicoteague, MD, our favorite hideout when we lived in DC. Or maybe we'll travel abroad and see some place new and exciting.

Most of all, where ever it is, it will be us. The two of us. Enjoying one another. Sure, we have each other every night of the year, but this will be our own little gift to each other.

Time away from everything. No work. No family obligations. No distractions. Just us. Enjoying all those little things we love about each other that get caught up in the day to day.

I can't think of a better gift to give one another. It's a simple gift.

The gift of actually enjoying the holiday.

Together.

L.

Peaches and Cream

It's been more than a year since I started this blog.

I know full well that I've let the blog lapse quite a bit during the past few months. Time does get away, doesn't it?

But, even with the lack of posts recently having a written account of the past year makes it easy to look back. I like to think about where I've been, how I've grown, how I've regressed, but most of all, I like to think about how the past year has helped, or will teach, me to get where I'm going.

Some people decided on a goal at 10-years-old, and at 30, have either fully reached it or are working to achieve it. I'm simply not one of those people. My life is not what I thought it would be when I was 10, but on so many levels, it's so much better than I'd ever hoped.

Looking back at 2008 I can see that I've done some remarkable things, while recognizing that I've slid backwards several times.

At my actual paying job, I've seen real farmers make real worldwide connections that improve their livelihoods. I've seen communities make a comeback from the brink of nonexistence. I've seen entrepreneurs watch their products make it to the marketplace. I like to think I've had a small hand in all those things. If only because it makes our state a competitor in the global market and, therefore, a better place for future generations.

In the job I simply call my life, D. and I have purchased a house that we've toiled in to make a real home. I've spent time with friends hashing over things that haven't worked out quite like we planned. I've watched my nephews grow from children into smart young men. I didn't stop smoking, although I've thought time and time again I should. I've seen the first African-American elected president, and I was able to vote for him...twice. I never lost those 10 pounds. I've actually used my passport.

Looking back, 2008 was a pretty good year. Here's hoping 2009 turns out to be just as good. Things will go wrong, of course. And many hours will be spent thinking and worrying about things I cannot change. All I can hope is that the good is better than the bad, but even if it isn't, I know that all will work out in the end.

After all, life can't always be peaches and cream.

L.

It's Just So Cold

During the summer months, I'm so much better about posting.

I can take my computer outside, smoke, have a glass of wine, and pine on and on and on about my thoughts.

The winter? Not so much. I eat a big meal, curl up on the couch, watch Deadwood on Netflix and turn in earlier and earlier each night.

But tonight I'm officially starting my vacation. I'm not the least bit concerned about what time I go to bed, because I don't have to be at the office tomorrow. I need to do a touch of work, but it can all be done from home and none of it has to be done prior to the holiday. Oh, I'm so delighted.

What's more delightful is that Turner returns from Costa Rica tomorrow. She'll be back in the States for a full three weeks, and I can hardly contain myself.

How delightful it will be to see her again. It's been six months since we were in her country, but it seems like a lifetime. She's going back to Costa Rica in January, which only means that I'll need to return to Costa Rica in June.

Maybe this is we'll do. I'll go there, she'll come here, I'll go there. Seems like a nice trade off.

But, Turner, since you're going back, I'm gonna need to you to get your own cell phone. For crying out loud, I don't want to call your host home, so I'm gonna need a number all your own.

I swear I'm happy to pay the bill just to have you at the end of a phone call.

L.

Oh God, The Flu

I swear I'm still hanging around. It's just that the cold temperature and a serious case of what I assume can only be the flu have pulled me toward the couch and whatever movie happens to be on TNT (I've honestly seen almost the full trilogy of "The Librarian," really).

I have a ton of things to say, and I hope to pull my health and my thoughts together in the next few days for a good, solid post.

Until then, please know that you're not neglected. I'm still hanging around. I just need a little time to tend to some serious fatigue.

L.