Getting In the Christmas Mood

It was quite a wild weather weekend. We got a few sprinkles here, but mostly it was the wind. We didn't have nearly what other areas of the Midwest had......but suddenly there are very few leaves left on the trees. I made the dubious decision to run to the grocery store Saturday morning. The door of the SUV nearly blew out of my hand when I opened it. The only positive thing I can say is that the temps were pretty mild, so it wasn't a cold wind!

I spent a good bit of the weekend working on a Christmas ornament – 7 done and #8 well under way. It makes me feel good to know I'm making good progress. I'm trying to keep a panic from squeezing into my brain about Christmas cards, though. Normally I try to have the Christmas cards addressed and signed by Thanksgiving. I'd like to say I haven't even thought about them this year......but obviously, that wouldn't be a true statement! I have thought a couple of times. I did see see cards today when I was in the desk drawer. Before I panic about doing them, though, I need to send off a couple of emails for updated addresses. One stepdaughter has moved from Long Beach to Simi Valley, and one sister-in-law has moved from the Bay Area to southern Oregon.

I'm trying to stay calm and relaxed about the time going by – after all, we're supposed to be retired.....and relaxed....and not under a time schedule. Hmmm. I'm trying. I must admit that I'm starting to feel a little tickle in the back of my mind that keeps saying “Thanksgiving is next week, and I can get out the Christmas decorations”. I think I'm ready to get that done and enjoy it – hubby will be home to help.

Now is when being unemployed is starting to be more of a reality. Not that it hasn't been, but we've managed pretty well so far. Now we're looking at the end of our unemployment payments, have the city property tax bill here (and the county tax bill won't be far behind), and it's almost the holidays.

I've enjoyed the past several years having a reasonably decent holiday budget for gifting the grandkids. But we planned out months ago what we could realistically spend on them this year. I know it's the right decision, but it's starting to sting a little. I just can't get myself into that aspect of the holidays yet. The 15-year-old grandsons will be fine with receiving money....in fact, they'll be happier with that than a gift. The 8-year-old granddaughter might be happy with money, too – but I enjoy buying stuff for her. And the 5-year-old granddaughter.......well, she's happy with money, but she still doesn't have a concept of amounts.

Grandma needs a good healthy dose of remembering what Christmas is all about – and that the important part is just being together as a family. And every one of the grandkids has everything they need.....and most of the things they want!

For today, I'm looking forward to sundown. There's been a bobcat operating about twenty feet away from the front corner of our house all afternoon as a new parking area is being created. Surely by sundown my world will once again be quiet!