Christmas
The rush is over ... for now. It started for me on December 2, when Father Christmas and his elf were called to the halls of Canadian Mennonite University, to visit with the children in attendance and to hand out Christmas canes. Since then there have been a series of "appearances", some formal, some in. And some in Winnipeg - and then a quick trip to the fabled East, where apparently the Wise People live, for a series of three Christmas feasts with board, staff and families in three days, and another feast in Winnipeg two days later. And yet one more a week ago, and then to Calgary for another staff-and-family feast. Inbetween there was a birthday feast for V, who celebrated her 60th birthday! And then from Calgary to Saskatoon, to celebrate with parents, sibs and family. "Celebrate" as in, eat some more. And to think that just three weeks ago, my doc told me I should lose weight, not gain.
Boxing Day will hopefully be the start of a more disciplined and austere life style, when we return to Winnipeg to begin the long winter hibernation.
But for this morning, Christmas Day, there is a rest. I have read some, listened to Bach's Christmas Oratorio, played Yahtzee with my mom, cuddled with V, visited with Thizzo, watched a bit of telly, and updated my Journal. There will be more rush this afternoon. My dad is being picked up from the nursing home at 2:00, and coming home for Christmas supper! Well, as much as he can eat anyway. He is unable to eat solid food, and so his dish will consist of pureed turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and mashed beans. His communication skills have been markedly reduced since I lasy saw him a month ago. He still follows everything with his eyes (and thus I am sure still knows what's going on), but says nothing at all. We'll see if a visit to his last real "home" may improve things.
It will be a fun afternoon. We miss Spring_heel Jill and C, but Thizzo is here. Brother D and his boys will be here. Sister S and her boys will be here. We miss sister D and brother K and his brood, still in Winnipeg - but we expect to see them in a few days when we get back. The turkey looks good, the apartment is warm, the music is great, the company is ... Christmas. Peanuts. Oranges. Chocolates. Candy.
Contentment is a difficult concept to apprehend, especially at Christmas. But I think I'm almost there. And we haven't even opened all the gifts!
Boxing Day will hopefully be the start of a more disciplined and austere life style, when we return to Winnipeg to begin the long winter hibernation.
But for this morning, Christmas Day, there is a rest. I have read some, listened to Bach's Christmas Oratorio, played Yahtzee with my mom, cuddled with V, visited with Thizzo, watched a bit of telly, and updated my Journal. There will be more rush this afternoon. My dad is being picked up from the nursing home at 2:00, and coming home for Christmas supper! Well, as much as he can eat anyway. He is unable to eat solid food, and so his dish will consist of pureed turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and mashed beans. His communication skills have been markedly reduced since I lasy saw him a month ago. He still follows everything with his eyes (and thus I am sure still knows what's going on), but says nothing at all. We'll see if a visit to his last real "home" may improve things.
It will be a fun afternoon. We miss Spring_heel Jill and C, but Thizzo is here. Brother D and his boys will be here. Sister S and her boys will be here. We miss sister D and brother K and his brood, still in Winnipeg - but we expect to see them in a few days when we get back. The turkey looks good, the apartment is warm, the music is great, the company is ... Christmas. Peanuts. Oranges. Chocolates. Candy.
Contentment is a difficult concept to apprehend, especially at Christmas. But I think I'm almost there. And we haven't even opened all the gifts!