Traveling, Still

When I moved to this little town, I felt my traveling days were behind me. That's what I get for thinking. Not only is my suitcase being used more in the past two years, traveling is now going to be a regular part of my senior life.

My grown kids each are buying airline tickets for me to visit them. They and I live in four different states. I agree it is easier and less costly for one person to travel, so they voted to dub me the traveler, and I accepted the invitations.

Last January I was with my son and daughter-in-law in Hawaii; this January I will be in Arizona with my daughter and her family. Hawaii will be in March. California in May, with more plans being discussed already for summer and fall. Thankfully, I am in good health and a light packer. After all, I am the one who has to lift the bag over my head on the plane. Did I mention I am not very tall?

Last year I also spent time in Wisconsin with my aunt, who is my godmother. Of course I will see her this year as well. And some side trips to see dear friends and other family members. Instead of storing the suitcase in the garage, I may as well keep it in my closet, handy and ready for more adventures.

Merry Christmas

This isn't my cat Lola. Two things about this picture are proof this can't be Lola. First, I would not have a large tree like this in the little white house; and secondly, the cat in this picture is smaller than Lola, who is a Maine Coon, the breed with the nickname "Gentle Giant", and she does indeed live up to the nickname.

But, if she could reach the top of a Christmas tree, she would indeed be showing this exact personality. She is calm, even regal, and she is my companion. Someone to welcome me when I come home and she sort of "answers" me when I talk to her. Yes, I have become one of the senior citizens who talks to their pet. And, I don't mind what anyone thinks about that either.

Gads!

Merry Christmas to all my blogging buddies. If you don't celebrate Christmas, then I wish you a wonderful holiday season. May we have peace in our hearts, joy in our speech, and appreciation of the kindnesses from others as we share happiness with people we encounter in this busy holiday. We never know which person is crying on the inside while attempting to hide unhappiness. I hope we all are able to bring a little joy into someone's life without spending money and without expecting something in return. Just because we can.

Love to you all.
CiCi

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

When I was a little girl,
I wrote to you every year.
It didn't seem to matter
If you were far or near.

You missed my house
But the fault was not yours.
Trying to find us each year
kept you knocking on doors.

We moved to new places
Practically every year.
My brother and I holding
back sadness and tears.

It was such a relief to learn
you are not even real.
Why were we taught to
make you such a big deal.

Bah Humbug. Ha.

3 D Success

Memory Impaired

This is becoming more evident each year. GADS!

Round Robin

For as long as I can remember, there has been a Round Robin letter.  My mother and her ten siblings stayed in touch via the Round Robin, and as some of us cousins got old enough we would add letters occasionally as well.

There were 79 of us first cousins but over the years we lost some, so now there are only 67 of us. Two cousins passed away a couple months ago after suffering horrible pain due to cancer.

While I was at my aunt's in Wisconsin in May, she showed me the Round Robin that had arrived that week, and asked if I would care to write a note to add before she sent it in the mail, so I did. Then she asked if I would like to be added to the list receiving the packet in the mail, so now I am part of the Round Robin family letter writers again.

The packet arrived here this week, so my goal is to read all the letters and write one of my own after I remove my last letter I wrote in May, and send the packet on to my uncle. I had forgotten how fun it is to see pictures and read events from aunts and uncles and cousins. And I am part of this! Amazing.