It was a lovely Christmas morning. Me, my SisterDears and brothers were joyfully opening our gifts. Later in the day we were having a large family gathering, my favorite kind of Christmas! Nana Gert, Auntie Jeanne and her family were coming to have Christmas dinner with us. I had crocheted a peach-colored scarf and hat for Nana and I couldn’t wait for her to open it!! It was going to be a most wonderful Christmas Day!
I had just opened a gift. It was a brand new 45 that I’d been wanting so badly, Precious and Few by Climax.
The phone rang and MotherDear answered. I heard the most mournful sound come from her mouth. Nana Gert had died during the night at Auntie Jeanne’s. She had fallen asleep in the rocking chair, knitting a last minute gift for somebody. The doctor said she had likely fallen asleep and had a stroke during the night. She never knew anything.
The rest of that day is just a blur, the only other thing I remember from that day is that I went downstairs to the basement and spent the entire day and long into the night crying my heart out. I played that 45 over and over and over again. I literally wore it out, remembering my Nana and missing her so badly it was physically painful.
It was the first time in my life that I realized that I had to treasure each moment with somebody who I love. From that moment, I am always mindful that it might be my last opportunity to share time with them. Because none of ever knows when the last moment in time may come.
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Visit here if you’d like to do your own Message in a Bottle, you do not have to be tagged. I chose to combine mine with a post because Nana Gert was my inspiration for my Message.
No clue where this list originated so I can’t give credit, but it’s hysterical.
Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.
Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can’t find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an ‘eggnog-aholic’ or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it! Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think.
If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.
Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and mincemeat - have a slice of each. Or, if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert — Labor Day?
Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. I am a firm believer that there is only one fruitcake in the world and it just keeps going around and around by mail.
One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Reread tips.
Start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ‘YEE-HAWWWWWW! what a ride!”
Good Morning SisterDears, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your familys!!
We are all chopped, peeled and mixed here. Ready to cook & bake for the Thanksgiving Day meal. The first pie is in the oven and I thought I’d take a moment before I jump in the shower to tell you all about the strange phenomenon going on here in the deep south.
It’s raining… pecans. It’s like we’re having a meteor shower, only it’s pecans. Dad just went out to move the vehicles ’cause they’re being bombarded on the driveway! Since about 5AM we’ve had a very light, steady rain with strong breezes and now the pecans are dropping and the leaves are falling steadily. It’s about 64 degrees and with the cool breeze and leaves it actually looks and feels like fall here! Thunderstorms are supposed to behind this, so I don’t think we’ll be putting up the Christmas lights today after all.
The rest of that day is just a blur, the only other thing I remember from that day is that I went downstairs to the basement and spent the entire day and long into the night crying my heart out. I played that 45 over and over and over again. I literally wore it out, remembering my Nana and missing her so badly it was physically painful.
The very best job I could ever imagine is one that would pay me to think… and the currency would be wine!
