CHRISTMAS EVE MEMORIES 2009

• After a couple of weeks of sleeping from 3am to 10am, I was awakened by my alarm at 7am. It’s OK, I am taking a dear friend to the airport so he can be with his family for Christmas.
• Having breakfast at Orange with same dear friend and being cajoled, and refusing, to taste Chai flavored French Toast. (bleech!) I had the “boring” buttermilk pancakes (yes, that is what they call them on the menu). (I thought I was being adventurous enough with the orange/grape juice.)
• Getting a call from my brother to bitch about Christmas plans and family members, but knowing the real reason he called.
• Pre-heating the oven and having the leftover scent of chocolate chip cookies waft through the house.
• Deciding it is overcast enough to turn on the Christmas lights in the front window at noon.
• Looking out same front windows and hoping that the forecasted rain doesn’t melt away all of the snow before Christmas morning.
• Reading friends’ blogs and sending brief comments just to stay connected.
• Remembering Uncle Don a.k.a. Santa.
• Putting the finishing touches on the Christmas baskets.
• Grateful to have rediscovered old photos and old memories.
• Laughing as Basil (my oldest cat) sucks up to me today thinking he’ll get a better present than Abbey and Bruiser.
• Cuddling up on the end of the couch, wrapped up in a snowman blanket I got from my Pennsylvania great-nieces, near a small lamp so I can read the book I just received that was written by my very dear friend, John. You can read it, too. Just order it at: http://www.amazon.com/Touching-Wonder-Recapturing-Awe-Christmas/dp/1434764656/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261680621&sr=8-1
• Hearing the buzzer on the stove go off, telling me the last batch of chocolate chip cookies is ready.
• Thinking how blessed I am.
• Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Rich