Christmas greetings and Happy Holidays!
Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.
Albert Schweitzer
I love this time of year, but it also brings with it, during the days leading up to Christmas Eve, an annual visit from that old nemesis, melancholia, or depression, if you will. However, on Christmas Day, as now when I am writing this, the gloom of loneliness during the holidays passes and I enjoy the day at the festively decorated home of my brother and his partner at the beach. Their two dogs, Etta James and Willie Nelson, make me so happy with their unconditional love and affection. I am preparing soon to gather up the stockings and presents and head out there.
The past few nights have been cold and invigorating. As I walked to my apartment one evening after shopping, , I looked up and saw the Big Dipper and countless other stars. I smelled the wood smoke in the air from a house in back that always seems to have a cheery fire going on these deep winter nights. I breathed in the cold, crisp air, and felt alive and rejuvenated. Then I entered my warm and cozy living room and turn on the lights. Home.
Dear readers, you are like that warm light in the cozy living room. It’s your presence.. your nearness… your willingness to share your thoughts, dreams, hopes, and daily lives with me and others who come here to this writing community, that makes me extremely grateful.
This Chrustmas in 2024 has been unusual in one regard. During this season starting on or about Thanksgiving, I started buying Christmas decorations and nostalgic souvenirs of the season. I went all out this year, not because I was necessarily ecstatically jolly and happy, but because these simple little things give me much please as when I pass by and look at my Christas village with its candy store and hotel, a cheery sleigh with Santa and Snoopy from “Peanuts,” and, of course, snow people! When I stop to look closely at one thing or another, I smile or laugh softly. There is no one to share these with in person, so I’m posting a link to some photos I took last night.
I don’t say this fishing for sympathy from well-meaning friends and family who are together with siblings, children and grandchildren. Having no partner, spouse, children or grandchildren myself, these sometime ornate decorations lift my spirits and makes me feel less alone at Christmas. Maybe they’re a bit kitschy, but I like that. I’m smiling now.
The simple old fashioned things in life bring joy and peace!
https://www.flickr.com/gp/camas/y7G36bWg7M
Much peace to you this Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas! I love the dogs’ names lol. I hope you have a great rest-of-the-holiday!
@elizabethbarstone-novelist Thank you so much! I wish you a Happy New Year!
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..Oh, I just looked at those pics. I love those decorations. I usually put out all my miniature Charlie Brown Christmas figures, a couple of snowmen.
@elizabethbarstone-novelist I need more “Peanuts” decorations! I am a huge fan…Also, can’t resist the snow people. Hallmark has the best figurines for that.
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Oh, I love christmas villages! I donated most everything Christmas-related that I had accumulated over my lifetime except for a snowman collection (the majority of which are sock snowmen made by my kids in their elementary school years). I took out a few of the snowmen this year after a 5 year hiatus, and it does make me happier during this dreary month.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
@elkay There is nothing that cheers me up quite as much as snow people. In my opinion the Hallmark snowmen are the best. They are such beautifully designed and painted figurines. I am a bit obsessed..I think I bought five this year of all kinds.
Happy New Year to you, too!
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Merry Christmas!
@ghostdancer I had such fun buying new decorations this year. Most were impulse buys, but I like them all. The musical falling snow globes and similar snow scenes, are my favorites for giving me a nice, peaceful feeling.
Happy New Year!
@oswego Musical falling snow globes! I had no idea! But I looked them up and they’re just gorgeous! I’ll have to a) figure out which one I want and b) start saving my pennies! I definitely need at least one in my snow globe collection!
@ghostdancer That would be a smart purchase. They are so much fun and beautiful to look at.
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Merry Christmas! Those are some cute decorations. Now that it’s all over, I kind of wish I had gotten out more decorations.
@startingover_1 I misplaced decorations each year, I think purposely, so I’ll have to buy new ones! LOL!
It is so much fun setting them up and looking at various details, as I pass by on the way to the kitchen.
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Hey, there’s nothing wrong with decorating for your own enjoyment. I live way back off the road on a dead end street, and yet I still put up lots of Christmas lights outside and put my tree so it shows thru the front window. Even though almost no one but the grinchy neighbor across the way will see them. But me and my husband see them, and even if I wasn’t married I’d still decorate. Hope you have a happy New Year.
@schrecken13 Thank you! Happy New Year to you. 2025 should be interesting, to say the least.
Christmas this year was the barest semblance of what it was many years ago with a lot of family members being together. That said, my brother and his partner made it a happy time. My decorations were an attempt, as they always we, to rekindle some of the memories of Christmases past.
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I’m glad you had a nice Christmas. I loved seeing the pictures of your decorations. I still have my tree up and am in no hurry to take it down. I’m not tired of it yet. I haven’t been here in so long so have a lot of reading to catch up on…reading on.
@happyathome Wow! It’s so wonderful to see this note from you. I hope you are well. I recall there was so much going on in your life that it was not possible to keep up with Open Diary. But I have missed your writing and notes. Glad you are back.
@oswego It’s nice to be missed…thank you. Yes, life got a little crazy but things have calmed down some. Baby Walker finished his chemo and is cancer free…that’s the biggest news. I’m about to write an entry…it’s good to know someone will be glad to see it. Happy Happy New Year friend.
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