Sunday Surprise...

Yesterday found me feeling a bit overstuffed from a sweet Hanukkah gathering at the home of friends the night before. They both cook, so the food is always wonderful and the latkes were homemade. With fourteen including a teen and tween, there was a lot of laughter and conversation and our hosts gifted each of us with Hanukkah tees especially for the occasion. The meal was followed by sufganiyot or fried donuts rolled in cinnamon or powdered sugar and cookies provided by one of the guests.

Earlier on Saturday, I had checked our local paper online for the obituary of my most recently departed friend, and found it. There is something about seeing a death notice in print that really says, "gone."  The brevity of facts and recitation of accomplishments or survivorship hardly do justice to the depth and breadth of the individual or one's relationship to them.

By Sunday, all I wanted was the peace of a slow day. As an introvert, I crave quiet, particularly after social gatherings, and so, slept in. An afternoon phone call found me still in pajamas as two longtime friends rang requesting a visit. Luckily, I've known them for 25 years and though we'd not seen each other in quite some time, they are so laid back that neither was offended by my attire. When asked what they'd been up to, the male of the couple responded that it was the season for Jews to play Santa. He has the bushy beard and girth for the job, and a wonderful voice for singing carols and had been the focal point of a party at a local tea room. We spent a wonderful afternoon catching up and then had an impromptu dinner of Greek take-away. As they now live forty-five minutes from here, I'm not sure when we'll see each other again but I'll be in touch.

Wishing you all a good week.

At least someone has the spirit...

Notice the antlers?

Someone has some holiday humor...

As for me, I'm tired...of losing pets, friends, things...

I hope the new year is better and brings back my now de-flated sense of optimism. I have a couple of painful and longstanding anniversaries this month and though I am glad to have survived them, and grateful for those people and things remaining and for my well being, I am also a wee bit down. That epitomizes this season for many. Perhaps this year I just feel it more keenly.

One of you wrote about the need for routine and mine has been disrupted. I do not find it as easy to bounce back or re-direct my energies. The advice from my friendly mental health professional is to keep putting one foot in front of the other and take things a day at a time. As with most pieces of advice, it is the execution rather than the concept which leaves something to be desired. It would help if I did not see the country I live in being dismantled.

I've decided to focus on what I am thankful for by trying to notice small things and writing them down daily. This may help trick my brain and perk up my mood. Every little bit helps. Additionally, I've decided to take a serious look at my handling of household variable expenditures and do some tweaking. I've found a community of frugal folk and I'm hoping to set and meet some goals along those lines. Though the place is lonely without an animal companion, I need to determine whether pet insurance and a mobile vet are viable options for me. Investigating service dog opportunities is another item on my agenda, though dogs are a lot of work to keep properly. I've also decided to spend more time writing and reduce my time on social media. I'll still post regularly here and read when I can.

Until Next Time...