Christmas Blessings

I'm going to say something that often offends people, or at least causes them to shake their heads at me and go "tsk, tsk..." but secretly I think I have more people agreeing with me than not: I don't like Christmas. If it were up to me, I'd go to sleep the day after Thanksgiving and wake up on January 3rd.

Why? It's a royal pain in the hiney. I have to spend money to buy gifts for people who don't need anything, and that counts my own children. I have to find places and uses for things other people give me, things I didn't need either. Don't get me wrong; I'm a pretty generous person and I like the idea of giving gifts. I like gifts that are really well thought out and appropriate. Unfortunately most people think that means "dull and practical," like the gifts I got this year from my husband, a vacuum cleaner and a George Foreman grill. I wanted them both, but YAWN, how boring! I could just as well have gone and bought them myself. I've been doing that lately. For example, there are these house slippers I've been wanting for years, specifically black Totes Isotoner ballet slippers. At least 5 years I have put them on my list, and I've received just about any other kind of slipper you can think of instead. So this year I went out to Kohls and got them myself. They were on sale for 40% off, too.

So what are good gifts? The best gift is either something that would really improve your life but you can't afford, a luxury you'd love but would never get for yourself, or something handmade from the heart and hands of the giver. Last year I made my mom a quilt. It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty, and I think that's probably the best gift anybody had given her in a very long time.

It's folded up and sitting in my bedroom right now.

Christmas isn't the same, of course, without my mom. We celebrated with a modest dinner that my husband helped me prepare; ham, green beans, roasted potatoes, corn, dinner rolls, and my homemade pecan and french silk pies. My sister-in-law, her boyfriend and her 3 kids came over, as did my father-in-law. I really missed my mom, though. She'd sit in the kitchen chatting with me as I finished up, and later while I cleaned the kitchen. It was kind of lonely in there this time.

She did give me a gift, though. A few of them, in fact. I chose them, but I'm sure she would have been happy to give them. I got a new refrigerator, stove and microwave. I am also getting the chance to finish my college education!

Yes, that is right - I am going back to college to earn my Bachelor's Degree. I'm so excited! I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but never thought I'd be able to pay for it. With the inheritance my mother left for me, I can! I have no doubt in my mind this is what she would want me to do. Thanks, mom. Thanks go to my dad too, because he worked just as hard to save and invest that money. I will make them proud.

If all goes well, I will be attending Wright State University. I sent in my application, but I am still waiting to receive my transcript from years before at UC so that I can finish the process. I am going to get my degree in English, with a certificate in professional writing.

I drove with my daughter today (my son was at a friend's house) to see the college - just to drive around and get a first look at the place. I wasn't even sure where it was. It's big! I feel completely lost and, to tell the truth, scared! I am going to be 40 years old in less than one month, and to be going back to college at this age is pretty intimidating. I have to do it, though, or at least give it a good try!

We stopped in at "The College Store" where they sell WSU T-shirts, school supplies and books. I wanted to buy myself a shirt! I also got my daughter a few school supplies (they always need this stuff!) and a pad of graph paper for quilt designing. I feel "official" now!

No hurry, though. The next few months for me will be busy enough as I try to settle my mom's estate, go through her stuff and get her condo ready to sell. I'm not doing anything till the kids go back to school after Christmas break, but just thinking about the job is overwhelming. What am I going to do with all that stuff? Sell some of it, donate most of it, but there will be a lot I just can't part with. Furniture, for example - a brand new dining room set, brand new sofa, two bedroom sets, etc. All the craft and sewing supplies! All the "keepsakes"!!! We may get a storage unit to hold things temporarily because it will take me a long time to go through it all.

My husband is talking about taking over our garage and finishing it to make me a big office and craft room. Wouldn't that be lovely? My current office is tiny and dark. This would have actual windows and a door to the outside. I'd have a place for all my mom's craft things - brand new cutting table, a dressmaker's model, a New Home sewing machine that embroiders - and oh, so much more. I want to simplify my life and cut down the clutter of my possessions, but this is useful stuff! Ah, well, it doesn't have to happen overnight. Soon, though!

My dear hubby has been very supportive through all this. In some ways I think he's taking it harder than I am. She was kind of his second mom, especially after his passed away a few years ago. He's cutting down his hours at work to eliminate overtime so he can help me, but he says he can't go over to her condo without crying. I'm having trouble too, but I have a lot of happy memories to sustain me.