The outside temperature on this 7th day of December, 2013, is 24 degrees. My thoughts always stray in cold like this to homeless people. I never have and never will take my home for granted. As a small child of two I was without a home and the imprint on my feelings about hearth and home is unmistakable. . .home is where the heart is.
Last night we attended the 5th Avenue theater production of Oliver with son, Brandon, and best friends, Terry and Gretchen Owen. We dined before the show at Sullivan's steakhouse. We laughed, teased and enjoyed good wine and food. After the performance, Brandon invited us in to see his home and to offer Gretchen one of her favorite drinks: white chocolate liqueur. His new hutch was installed and filled, the dining table pushed to one side to make room for a tree. This afternoon he posted on Facebook a picture of the eleven foot noble fir, a real beauty that he cut and brought home for this special spot in his dining room. He seems oddly content living without a partner. He is more than likely dating, but chooses not to share that information with us at this time. Brandon loves Christmas time, especially the music. A year's subscription to Pandora is an every year gift we are assured will be a big hit with him.
Two weeks ago I brought up the first of our Christmas decorations and have been setting things around the house in a slow, sure manner. I am 90% complete and we entertained Ann and John Martin, former dragonboat club members, today chatting in the living room and downstairs in the pub. My cousins Joy, Marcia and Marie, Karman, Kim and Shannon, Sarah and Megan will visit a week from today. I wanted to spend time with them without seeing them at a memorial service, the only times I've seen them all together in the last five years. It is difficult to see the results of our decorating when we do the work setting things up. The outside lights are on in the evening and we like the "holly" effect of the red and green lights on the ends of the eaves and at the peaks of the roof. Pandora has a great station that plays Sinatra, Como, Cole, Mathis and Crosby, all my favorites and I make sure it's playing as I decorate the tree, tops of tables and wood moulding. It's a warm, cozy, family time of year. I hope I never lose my love of this peaceful, colorful holiday spirit. As I age, I may not be able to decorate a tree or carry boxes up from the basement, but I hope I always smile when I hear "Ho, Ho, Ho".
