Thursday, December 26, 2019

One of my gifts was a down (synthetic)pillow top mattress pad. It is super comfy, the profit being, I slept 13 hours!!! I am feeling great today.

Yesterday, after opening presents at home, we all drove to my parents house for dinner. I brought all the side dishes, my Dad made a ham. My 3 year old great nephew was the star of the show. It's lovely to see my nephew in parenting mode. He sets firm boundaries, but in such a loving and respectful way.

Today is more clean up. I went to bed Christmas eve (at 2 am!) with the house in order and the kitchen clean, but after presents and breakfast for 7 Christmas morning, we left for my parents house with only the most necessary of clean up in the kitchen.

Tomorrow back to my parents house for the weekend to celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary on Saturday. It's just immediate family, but more cooking on my part required... And sleeping on an air mattress because we are essentially the hosts, so we aren't commandeering one of the guest rooms, that wouldn't be very gracious :)

Today I am not assigning myself too many tasks, before I crank it up again tomorrow. I have a lot of thoughts about the amount of effort that falls on women to create the festival of Christmas. But that is for another day. Today is recuperation, and, due to my parent's milestone anniversary, the festival resumes tomorrow!

I'm excited to hear your thoughts about Christmas festivities (planning and execution) falling on women. In my family that is not the case, nor has it ever been. It has always been an equal opportunity holiday, but I see in Ron's family much more burden is placed on the women.

Spending more than a quarter century in an elementary school setting, I have thoughts about things like this, too.

My dad has really never participated in Christmas prep other than to enjoy the outcome. My mom worked more than full time, bought her own presents, bought everyone else's presents, cooked, decorated... when I got old enough, I would buy her things from him. This year he didn't even buy his wife a present because she didn't specifically say she wanted anything! I wish I had known and bought her more. At least he said he felt bad about it. But oddly, he bought me a super expensive diamond bracelet for Christmas and my birthday from Tiffany's. He said he would have gotten her something there, but she didn't seem interested in anything particular. (She's not girly and jewelry isn't her thing, but she listed off a bunch of sporty things she would have liked). He loves her and they buy a lot of expensive stuff together like boats they both enjoy, so he's just oblivious, not at all malicious.

DD, PLEASE tell me the brand name / model name of that mattress topper. It sounds amazing!

I will buy it!

A.

Greetings Fabulous Friends

I so love this group and how for years we have been going through life's milestones together. Birth, death, new love, transitions, joys, sorrows and everything in between. Ann, what an interesting novel this would make - a group of unrelated people drawn together in the internet by a common interest which develops into deep friendship and support. Then a movie will be made and consider what actor would play you! For me it would be Glen Close. (Or Roseanne!!!) Ann would be Meryl Streep or Sharon Stone. Peps would be George Clooney. Other ideas?

Love hearing the Christmas stories. Liz glad you had a mostly good day and that you reamed out that doctor. My mom's hospice had its own doctor who took over when she was placed on hospice and he did all the meds etc and was a palliative care specialist. Sounds like thats not the case for hospital situation. Yes the best thing you can do for DH is to keep him free of fear and pain. Hope your strength holds up and glad the kids are with you.

BB I have often thought that aging is the process of lowering one's expectations and being satisfied with less fuss. When I was younger I spent more time decorating and prided myself on making a fabulous meal which was well timed. I would get mad at SIL who would show up with several side dishes that I hadn't planned for and would have cooked less if I knew what was coming. Over the years I have gotten over all that and remind myself its about the company. But you are right that things can be easier and better with good organization. but there is always someone who bolixes up the plan by not committing or doing what they promise. Just gotta roll with it. And yeah, I think Christmas mostly falls on women. I resented that my brothers did nothing and I had to do all this work even though I had an equally demanding job. I still do all the shopping for our mutual friends but I have told DH I will not shop for his family. His job

Everyones Christmas sounds fabulous. We had a nice one at our grown up friends with simple gifts and a nice meal. Wonderful company. But we came home with too much in the way of baked goods so I have to get rid of it somehow.

My poor brother got the flu and ended up in the ER on Christmas. He had the double shot but still got sick. I feel helpless being 800 miles away. Told him to have mint green tea.

Can't wait to hear about Adalyn Christmas. My great nephew - age 5 - was given a basket ball jersey by his favorite college female basket ball player. So glad he is loving women's sports. He won't take the jersey off even though it is a dress on him.

I have a feeling that things are going to take a turn for the better for all of us since 2019 was kind of tough. Cheers all.

And Liz I love the sweater story. Diane S

P'S' Its not too late to listen to Aretha sing "Joy to the World" on youtube.