Merry Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Pastafairimas, and whatever pagan ritual you may preferr
I have had difficulty writing as every attempt ends up thwarted. Believe me when I say that I have a large bag of thwarting mechanisms. I will try to keep from droning, ranting or otherwise boring you to death. Usually, that is best accomplished through brevity; not one of my strong traits.
So, I’ve been trying to recall Christmases past to recover some warm, fuzzy thoughts. All I came up with was a bunch of stressful memories. Mostly self imposed, the stress was mostly centered on getting everything done on time. As most of you know (I think), I love gift giving. It is pretty hard not to share the joy you can bring someone with the right gift. But the stress to not forget someone was huge. To do so showed you either didn’t care or lack the organizational skills to make a list. The biggest threat was that you could easily hurt someone’s feelings. Nothing would be worse than to slip further down in the karma competition and hurt someone’s feelings.
Today, as I shared Christmas breakfast with my Cafe family, I suddenly remembered the good part of Christmas memories. The warm and fuzzies came AFTER the stress we laid on ourselves; when we shared gifts and food and played with our new toys.
This was a good start: The dog wins the sweater contest!
Then there was free coffee for anyone wearing pajamas to breakfast.
Jake and Annie are back all too briefly but worth every minute. Marcus joined us for some winter beachcombing. The snow didn’t help but the tides still provide new pickins every day.
Meanwhile, I continue to work on the walls and the work space forming up in the spare bedroom. I’m starting to utilize some driftwood and air plants.
It will be a dynamic work in progress.
Finally snowing; if you aren’t having a white Christmas. Make it warm and fuzzy, hug a dog.
So far I've reached acceptable proficiency at the following, in chronological order: Silversmith, infantryman/door gunner, helicopter pilot, fireman, carpenter, residential contractor, FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist and crotchety old retired guy. Currently, I'm learning to fly again and that is what this is all about. 7/7/2020 edit: As I have had the opportunity to reflect (old people do that a lot) on my actual proficiency level at the above occupations, I feel adjustments are in order. The term "acceptable" depends on the observer, their own proficiency and experience level. Acceptable to me might be woefully deficient to the master. I think it would be more accurate to claim that I have earned a living wage at all of these occupations but never got rich. Actually, I feel that I have gotten rich at the last one. I have what I need and am profoundly grateful for all of it. The future looks bright indeed, as I have learned to fly again. For that I have all of you to thank. Thank You!
Pig, good for you. You seem, from a far, to be in a good place. My most memorable Christmas was ‘69. Stand down for US troops, not so for RVN. I volunteered to fly, did 2,5 hr for RVN in contact. 3rd time in the US advisor apologized to me for me getting shot at on Christmas. I told him, I’ll get you out of this shit hole, buy you a Charlie Bravo at Papa Victor. He declined. 50 years ago today. Seems like yesterday.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!