CEL-E-BRATE GOOD TIMES; COME ON

This time of the year is always filled with emotions for me.  Happy, sad, up, down, and definitely remembrances.  This is one of the times I miss living in my house.  Lots of room to decorate; lots of decorations.  PICTURE THIS - the 90s (1990s)  OCTOBER 30.  For me, the start of the REAL holidays.  In School, get out the turkey pictures, fall colors, etc.  At Home, dig out the bins of decorations. Not only decorating, but food - cookies, candy; YES, even fruitcake; pumpkin pies, Farm Store's Eggnog (the only kind to have), and, of course,  more food.

I don't decorate as large a space now.  That isn't an issue.  I've pared the boxes down to 10 from over 20, so I feel good about that, but I miss all the chaos and clamoring - Christmas cards; Boys at home, school out for two weeks; having money to buy lots of presents; even Tom fussing about so many decorations.

I remember one year so clearly.  As most everyone knows, Tom and I were divorced for 3 years and then remarried.  This particular time was, I think, the first Christmas we were back together.  It was very special and I wanted everything to  be perfect.  Unfortunately, I caught the flu from one of my "cherubs" at school and came home on Monday before Thanksgiving, deathly ill.  I looked at all the decorations I had out, our trees were all real at that time, and I had not purchased it yet.  I slowly turned and went into the bedroom TO DIE. Tom came home, saw me in bed, asked about me, and he slipped into his "servant" mode.  (He started using that aspect of his personality with me after we remarried)

He went to the store bought ginger ale, crackers, cheese, bacon, and some other items.  (He remembered that I always want bacon when I'm sick.  Who knows why that is; it has just always been.)  I don't recall the rest of that day, and most of the next.  I was starting to come out of it on the third day, which was Wed.  I smelled the bacon cooking, and "STAGGERED" out of the bedroom to follow the smell.

My wonderful husband had cleaned the house, purchased a tree, decorated it and the rest of the house, and fixed me a large plate of bacon, and had even set the table.  I couldn't stop crying.  And so that you will know how REALLY special this was, if you haven't already, for the first 10 years of our marriage, Tom did not want to celebrate the holidays.  (Most of his memories were not as happy as they could have been)

Things are different now.  As I sit here on the couch, watching my partly decorated "real looking" tree flashing all the lights - the memories are so real. If the good Lord allows, I will make many more.  I look forward especially to this year - new start; new tree (not real this year but bought just for me by a wonderful friend) and I definitely can't wait to see all my Family.

Having "OPEN HOUSE" this year Noon until . . . Come join us.  Call for directions. EVERYONE IS WELCOME HERE.