Good grief, y'all! Time's slip-sliding away from me. Again.
Since we visited last ...
Our family celebrated two Very Important birthdays-- Granddaughter #2 (Dec. 3) and her daddy (yesterday).
Chloe: left (ca. 1998) and far right (now)
Our 'social butterfly' was a no-show, but son and Lois came for dinner.
Tom's yakking, I'm taking pictures ... and they're probably thinking, "Are we ever going to eat?"
I presumed Troy would blow out the candles, but Lois was, 'NO blowing on the cheesecake!' Covid threats aside, we all had a good laugh.
After living 1,700 miles away for so long, I'm grateful being able to see them every so often ... and enjoy one another's company when we do!
* * *
Happy to finish my cards project this afternoon.
Honestly, I'm not holding out hope they'll arrive by Christmas.
See, when the package I sent 'priority' on November 27 never arrived, I decided to pay the Postal Service an in-person visit.
It's really hard to be cross, however, when the clerks are so friendly. No matter if customers are male or female, 8 or 80 ... they call everyone "Sugar", "Sweetie" or "Hon." And they seem truly happy to be there. (I know, wow! Right?)
Back to my dilemma.
After informing me I have to wait 30 days to file a claim, she said, "I wish I could say you're the only one." Guess there's a huge bottleneck back-up in Memphis. Think 18-wheelers just sitting, waiting for their contents to be sorted.
After informing me I have to wait 30 days to file a claim, she said, "I wish I could say you're the only one." Guess there's a huge bottleneck back-up in Memphis. Think 18-wheelers just sitting, waiting for their contents to be sorted.
Perhaps we should start a new tradition of opening gifts on Epiphany?
* * *
Speaking of the Epiphany!
Like every other grade-schooler I learned to sing, "Twelve Days of Christmas." Until recently, however, I believed (that) the Twelve Days referred to those dates leading up to Christmas. Wrong!
So, instead of calling it "12 Days of Christmas", starting tomorrow I'm going to begin posting a pictorial "Countdown to Christmas" both on Facebook and (perhaps) this blog.
..... those images that inspire memories and bring me joy. Even chagrin.
Want to play along?
'Til then ...
Please stay safe!
Hugs,
Myra
So glad to hear you are OK. I was worried that you were not blogging. I prayed.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you spent time with the family. Wishing you all well, especially grand-daughter on her birthday and her Dad.
"No matter if customers are male or female, 8 or 80 ... they call everyone "Sugar", "Sweetie" or "Hon."
There was a time when shop assistants here called customers, "dear" or "my duck" and such words. This has now been stopped as being too familiar and possibly harassment. What is the world coming to?
Over here the Twelve Days of Christmas are from 25 December until 6 January - the Epiphany. That's when we take down the Christmas decorations. But many people take down the decorations on 26 or 27 December.
Looking forwards to your Countdown To Christmas. Happy Advent.
God bless.
Again, you've touched my heart! It's never occurred to me to be offended when a clerk or server calls me "Sweetie." Sad.
DeleteYes, I was surprised when I Googled "12 Days" and realized they started on Dec. 25. We always leave our tree up 'til Jan. 6.
We leave our tree up until about 1/10. This year I think we'll stretch it out to mid March.
ReplyDeleteThat works! Why not?
DeleteThe one box I mailed is a week late being delivered. It better be there by Christmas!
ReplyDeleteSomeone here is quoted as saying, 50% of the Postal Service labor force is out with Covid or is in quarantine.
DeleteHappy birthdays to your granddaughter and son (belated wishes :) Sounds like a fun countdown you are going to be doing; looking forward to seeing your posts over the next few weeks. I can't believe Christmas is literally around the corner but we aren't doing a lot for it this year so basically I was done shopping before I even started to do so (giving money this year :)
ReplyDeletebetty
The perfect gift ... as they say, one size fits all!
DeleteHappy birthday to Granddaughter #2 and her dad. Glad you got to spend some time with family. Looking forward to your countdown to Christmas posts :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha!
DeleteTwelve days of Christmas aside, our tree and decorations will come down right after New Year's Day. Bah-humbug! Happy birthday to your celebrants! It is nice that you can get together more often now! Great photos and I do look forward to seeing your countdown posts!! xo
ReplyDeleteLOL! However, whenever ... it's all good!
DeleteYou and I probably live under the same rock. You knew of the 12 days before me. LOL
ReplyDeleteI do like Troy's Hair cut. Happy Birthday to both. AND YES some of us know how nice it is to be closer at holidays. Now at Christmas we are only 120 & 500 miles apart. Not as bad as it has been.
Love you lady and ALWAYS enjoy our visit here.
Be safe
Sherry & jack
Whew! For a moment, I thought I'd have to stand in the corner by myself. (LOL) xoxo
DeleteMy family (growing up family) always left the tree up until Jan. 6th, which I was told it was because that was my mother's birthday and that is the day they always took their tree down when she was a girl. I didn't realize until much later that it is also Epiphany, and that is the traditional day to take it down...the 12th day of Christmas! Nowadays we leave it up until I get ready to take it down...which is sometime after Jan. 1st, depending upon what we are doing and what day that fall on. Since I am retired, I don't have to wait for weekends to do it, so it's just whenever I am ready to make that mess again. I'm thinking it will stay up a while this year. I am enjoying it so much.
ReplyDeleteMe, too! In fact, I've not once turned it off, except when we both leave the house.
DeleteThank you for the heads up about the postal service. Fingers crossed cards will get here in a reasonable time. A couple of weeks ago Andy got a birthday card mailed last February, but that was unusual. 🙂
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed ... toes, too!
DeleteA lot of special people have December birthdays (including several of my relatives). Your son and I have B Days only a day apart.
ReplyDelete"No blowing on the cheesecake" cracked me up, because I've always thought it's unsanitary to blow out candles on a cake.
I admittedly am one of many who thought the Twelve Days of Christmas was a countdown to Christmas Day. I like the song (we had to sing it at one of my notorious childhood Christmas pageants).
Your childhood Christmas memories never fail to crack me up! More, please?
DeleteHappy Birthday to Chloe and Troy! So glad you could get together as a family to celebrate, Myra. Yes, the 12 days of Christmas DO start on Christmas Day, and in liturgical churches, Christmas carols are not sung until Christmas Eve, and then stretch on for those 12 days before Epiphany. Keep that tree up until January 6!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
In the words of my late friend Rick, "Every day's a school day." (*smile*) Yes, to leaving the tree up. Were it not for Tom, I'd like it all year round!
DeleteI don't know what the 12 daysof Christmas are or advent. we did not do either in our family growing up. love the family pics of now and then.. your family is beautiful and glad you got to visit with your son. good idea on the 12 day thing, will be waiting to see what comes up next.. Happy birthday to your son and his daughter. time is on fast forward... just glanced up and saw before Epiphany in a comment, don't know that one either. think person raised as old time hard-shell Baptist.
ReplyDeleteYep, time is a thief! I didn't realize Baptists don't observe Advent. No wonder you were baffled.
DeleteI'm looking forward to your countdown and love your Christmas chronicles. Glad you were able to celebrate the birdies with some cheesecake. I love epiphany, we call it the day of the 3 kings,I don't take any decorations down until after that.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ma! Now that you mention it, I think Tom refers to January 6 as 3 Kings Day.
DeleteThe USPS is experiencing horrible delays! I ordered stamps from the USPS to be sent to my home. I placed my order on November 19. They arrived on Saturday, December 12. They didn't track them for a week after December 1 - they were stuck somewhere!! I learned that about the 12 days of Christmas several years ago (probably since I came to work on a church staff!). I grew up Baptist and when I came to the UMC almost 40 years ago, I had no idea about Advent or Ephiphany (or Lent). Those practices have allowed me to grow even more in my faith!
ReplyDeleteUsed to be, a job with the Postal Service was coveted. They, in turn, looked up to. I can't imagine the stress those men and women are experiencing!
DeleteI actually did not know when the 12 days of Christmas were. Even though I've known the song forever, I never really thought about when the actual days were. lol
ReplyDeleteMe, either! Now I'll never forget it. LOL.
DeleteSo glad you had such a nice visit.
ReplyDelete