thank you, thank you, thank you!

The tree is standing up again! Emily and Grace helped me, but it wasn't steady. Paul shimmied some boards into the tree stand, then used fishing line to anchor it to the wall. Phew. It's not the most beautiful tree in the world, but it's big and sparkly. I'm not the biggest fan of white lights, I like all the colors, but the girls are most outspoken about this, so what the heck, right?

Emily, Grace, and I went out and about just a little yesterday. I got a few Christmas gifts, and something for me: a three pack of "readers", reading glasses, for eight dollars. Now I can be careless with my glasses again, until I'm down to the last pair. We had ham, mashed potatoes, applesauce supreme (a jar of unsweetened applesauce with six huge apples, peeled and sliced, plopped on top with sugar and cinnamon, baked), roasted asparagus and Brussel sprouts, Hawaiian rolls for dinner, then leftover pie for dessert. These are strange times indeed. This is my blog, for crying out loud, I've been writing here day after day for over 13 years, but now...I almost don't know what to write. The biggest part of my life, being with family, has been almost criminalized. I can't put up a pic with 14 people enjoying dinner, or mention the grandkids always wanting the same toy, or ramble on about our Christmas plans. No, I don't think someone is going to read it and call the cops, but. These are strange times though. I wonder if we should stop testing school kids for the virus, and instead test those who want to be with their friends and loved ones who are hospitalized or in nursing homes. Dying alone, being alone when you're sick and scared, or just being old and alone is CRIMINAL. It is WRONG. There has to be a way to end it! I'm going to end my rant for now, because I have things to do, because I'm actually going to...um, hold on to your hats, friends, I'm going to church. Actual, in person, with singing and happiness and thankfulness, church. mmm hmmm. It's within the law, at this time, because we are allowed 50% occupancy, and our building is huge. We do wear masks, and families sit together, so we do practice social distancing.