You know you’ve become an old married couple when you emerge from the shower in all of your naked glory to find your husband standing there eagerly only to have him ask for the computer password.
A Little Felt Tree
Studly Doright and I were married in July of 1976. I was just shy of twenty, while he was only 18. Broke, stupid, and in love, we had no idea then of the hurdles we’d have to jump over on our way to 43 years of marriage and beyond.
As our first Christmas as a married couple approached we had to set some new guidelines. I was set on keeping up my family’s Christmas traditions while he was equally set on keeping his. We managed to compromise fairly well, but there was one thing I insisted on–a live tree at least six feet tall. Studly’s family had a smaller tree that stood on a short table, as I recall.
I got my way that year, and we soon had our beautiful tall tree standing in its brand new red and green tree strand awaiting decorations. There was just one problem–we had no ornaments. None. And that tree had eaten up most of our disposable income.
My mom came to the rescue. She gave us three kits of felt ornaments that I could stitch together and decorate. One set featured characters from the Wizard of Oz.
Another set included typical Christmas characters–an angel, a snowman, and a Santa.
The last set featured Christmas trees and wreaths. I’ve managed to lose the wreaths, but my Christmas trees have hung in there (pun intended) all these years.
Several days ago I was scavenging for book five in the Harry Potter series at our local Goodwill book store when I came across a little felt tree hanging from the store’s tree. It was exactly like the one I’d made all those years ago
I wondered if some young woman had lovingly stitched the pieces together, adding shiny sequins where indicated by the kit’s directions. Had she been as nervous about her future as I was about mine?
And I wondered why this poor felt tree came to be all by itself at the Goodwill store. Of course I bought it and brought it home. I introduced the ornament to its counterparts on my tree, and then I let our elf on the shelf comfort it.
Welcome home, little tree.
Peace, people.
Sleep Don’t Come
While my sleepless nights are much more rare these days, occasionally they still plague me. Friday night was a plague night.
A couple of events contributed to the sleeplessness and even my Calm app couldn’t overcome it. One was a totally random, yet bizarre occurrence that I really wish I could write about but can’t because I don’t want anyone I know to read it and realize I’m talking about them. Tallahassee is a small town and one never knows what might come back to bite one in the butt.
The other event was something that I can’t discuss because it affects someone I love. I worried over this person literally all night long. Send some good vibes her way if you’re so inclined.
Bottom line–this post is a whole lot of “I can’t tell you anything.” Weird, because I usually spill all the beans and then some. Maybe later.
In the meantime, here’s a song that always makes me think of sleepless nights. Don’t worry, no one’s cheating on anyone.
Thank you, Hank Willians.
Third Time’s a Wake Up Call
As I was getting dressed this morning, a weird piece of music was coming from my bedroom. I leaned around the corner and said, “Alexa, stop.”
The blue ring activated, but the music continued to play.
“Alexa, stop,” I repeated, figuring my connection was weak.
Again, the blue ring activated, but the band played on.
“Dammit. Alexa, stop!” I commanded, walking towards the unit as I spoke.
That’s when I realized the music was issuing from my cell phone, and not the Bluetooth speaker. I silenced the YouTube video I’d left playing on my phone and apologized.
“Alexa, I’m sorry for yelling at you.”
“That’s okay,” she replied.
I wasn’t certain Siri would forgiven me so easily. So I yelled at her and then told her I was sorry. Her response? “No need to apologize.”
Maybe it’s time I did all of my conversing with these two pretend people. They don’t yell back, and they’re quick to forgive.
Peace, people.
A Festive State Mind
Hallelujah, I’m finally in a festive mood. The humbugs have been banished, and the grinch is gone. What, you might ask, has prompted my change in spirit? It wasn’t just one big thing that did the trick, but a series of small events.
1. My daughter called me several days ago with more than a hint of excitement in her voice. She lives in Illinois, and the long, cold winters there take a toll on her. So to hear her bubbling over with happiness made me happy.
2. All of my Christmas shopping is done and gifts are either en route or already under their respective recipients’ trees.
3. Studly Doright and I attended a company Christmas party at a Humphrey Bogart themed restaurant in DeFuniak Springs, FL. Since I’d just mentioned the film Casablanca in a recent post, I thought that dinner at a place called “Bogey’s” was more than a coincidence. Before we arrived at the restaurant Studly and I both thought it was golf themed. Boy, was he disappointed.
4. Our daughter sent photos and video of our youngest granddaughter performing in her school’s holiday concert. Isn’t she adorable? (The answer is “yes,” by the way.) Note the cute little guy next to her with his puffed out cheeks.
5. Our daughter, who played trombone all through middle and high school, is playing again–now in her kids’ high school pep band. Her family lives in a small town, and the pep band is correspondingly small, so when she realized a parent was playing in the pep band she asked the director if he could use another trombonist. He could, and that’s why she was so excited (refer to #1). She played her first gig on Monday night at a basketball game.
6. We’ve gone three days without finding cat pee where it shouldn’t be. Knock on wood.
7. This morning I’m meeting a friend for a holiday art show at LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts in Tallahassee and lunch at somewhere still to be determined.
8. Tonight Studly and I will attend the last of his company’s Christmas parties at Giorgio’s in Tallahassee. No ugly sweaters this time–I’m not sure whether that makes me sort of sad or extraordinarily excited. Leaning towards the excited; although, that means I probably need to put some thought into my appearance. At least with an ugly sweater I could just wear jeans.
8. Finally, I found this on Facebook. https://youtu.be/tEjLS0OHWnQ
Peace, people
Snapshot #271
I’m calling this one Proof That Winter Visits Florida.
White Christmas Remake
At the risk of sounding heretical I confess that there are many classic movies I’ve never seen in their entirety: Casablanca, The African Queen, and An Affair to Remember to name a few. And I always manage to tune into them in roughly the same spot. I’ve seen Deborah Kerr meet Cary Grant’s Italian grandmother twenty or more times, but I’ve never seen the beginning of the film.
Likewise, I somehow always tune into White Christmas when Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and the rest of the crew are making plans to pay tribute to their former general. I had no idea how they came to perform at the Columbia Inn in Vermont, or how they met the Haynes sisters played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. I never knew that their former general owned the inn!
A couple of days ago, though, I tuned in just in time to watch White Christmas from the opening credits to the closing ones. I saw every song and dance number–the good ones and the mediocre.
It’s such a pretty movie with a sweet story. I began to wonder if there should be a remake. John Legend could play the Bing Crosby role. Ed Sheeran could take on Danny Kaye’s part. Lady Gaga and Beyoncé could play the parts of the Haynes sisters. Okay, maybe they wouldn’t be sisters in the remake, just a performing duo.
I’d pay money to see that from the beginning.
Now I need to tackle the rest of the movies on my list.
Peace, people.
The Cat Peed on the Tree Skirt. Again.
I cross my fingers
Every day
That there’ll be no pee
Under the Christmas tree
Or in the bath tub
Or on the Persian rug.
It’s all a crap shoot
My life now revolves
Around the wheres
And the theres
The calming formulae
And deterrent sprays
I’m a detective
For my cat’s defective
Elimination behaviors
Seek and destroy
Clean and remove
I guess it could be worse
It could be poo.
Peace, people.
Snow What?
Last night I said to my husband, “Dang, I’m sleepy.”
“Really,” he replied. “And all these years I thought you were Grumpy.”
That’s life with Studly Doright.
Peace, people.
A Little Lost
Crushed by a harsh word
Confused and a little lost
Left alone to cry
Don’t even mind her
Feeling sorry for herself
Sitting in the dark
Why is she always
Afraid to test the waters
Lest she slip and drown
Praying for Eyebrowz 