One week away from Christmas Day

 TERRY

Really no news since I blogged yesterday after her water therapy.  As I write she is in a restless sleep.  I do think she is almost mixed up in her days and nights as often during the AM and first few hours of PM she is sleepy yet as we finish our two regular TV nightly shows at 8:00 she is wide-awake.  So as we head towards 2021, and is seems to be at high speed ,we take one day at a time as I have perhaps said a 1000 times or more.  

As Sonia left at noon today she confirmed that starting Monday she will be here 10:00-12:00.  We will see how that works.  I think it will be OK and for sure our bank account will like it!

I played tennis at 9:00 this morning.  It can be a funny game.  My partner and I won 6-3 and then were ahead 3-0 in the second and before we could wonder WHY we lost 3-6.  

I have the TV on channel 940 which is holiday music.  It brings to mind many many Christmas seasons of the past.  Christmas certainly changes as one gets older.  When the family is young there is the excitement of presents, of Christmas Programs, of activities during Christmas break and the list goes on and on.  AND of course in going WAY back to the farm the memories are so vivid and all are good.  

• Of course near the top of the memories are the Santa Claus Days in Lidgerwood with the free movies and bags of candy and then shopping
• The Christmas Eves at Grandma and Grandpa Lees are fun memories.  Perhaps as I look back on those days now I appreciate Grandma and Grandpa more now then at the time.  I wish every little kid could have wonderful grandparents.
• I think of the Christmas programs at school, at Sunday school and even at the school for the Deaf as we would put on a Christmas program.
• I can still remember Mom and Dad going to the camera club Christmas party.  We knew they would be gone a long time so we could spend all the time we wanted shaking packages from on top of the cupboards!  AND yes after we were finished guessing what we were getting it often was time for Dave and I to get a pint of canned peaches from the cellar and share huge helpings of peaches!
• I still can see Uncle Halvor peaking through the window and then coming in the front door with his Santa Claus suit on.  AND it was the same suit that later in the evening Dad would wear as he went to Halvors place!
• Some of the best memories are of Dave and I playing ping pong on the kitchen table and frying sliced potatoes on the cook stove at the same time.  I think those potatoes dipped in melted butter were about as good as Mom's warm lefse as it came off the griddle.
• It was not really connected to Christmas but it happened around Christmas that memories of milking the cows in the cold winter nights.  The aroma of alfalfa hay, the glistening eyes of the cats wanting squirts of milk and the moonlight on the snow as one walked to and from the barn.

So here it is a week from Christmas and about 65+ years away from those Christmas memories and life is VERY different.  I am at a good place and happy but memories of loved ones no longer with us at times weigh heavily on the heart.  I am so thankful for the memories and so thankful for the goodness of them BUT yet the pain of lost loved ones lingers and somehow reminds one that life is precious and one should hold on to memories and life cause memories can fade and life can be fleeting.

So what am I to do as the day goes into the afternoon?  I may do some cleaning up, some picking up, some putting away and also make sure Terry is as comfortable as possible. 

Yes, the FP is of course long gone.