Holidays...

Received the sweet message, this morning.

<3

It was difficult to part with Santa... 

purchased him, from Dear Pal, Cheri, several years ago, when she was moving.

He's Vintage... Paper Mache, very Cool.

; )

The only place I could safely store him... was in Liz's... old Bedroom.

Always felt so bad, when I'd go into that room, Santa... seemed pretty lonely.

I... perched Santa on the Balcony, most every year.

<3

A couple years... forgot all about Santa.

I... don't often go inside Liz's Room.

The 'Holidays'.... can get so Crazy.

oh my.

: (

Marci, and her Sis... each bought an

 Old...

Gnarly

Toy

Truck.

<3

I see Marci has hers... 

Decked Out, on her Mantle.

: )

<3 <3 <3 

As 'painful'... as it is, sometimes...

to 'let go',

well...

It Makes my Heart Swell, when I see Folks 

'Light Up'...

to the

'Old Souls'

as much as I do.

<3

Happy Hands!!

; )

Yesterday... was a Zoo, on most every level.

Had a Bunch of Business to tend to,

then...

felt I'd better get Thanksgiving Grocery Shopping Done.

As I finished computer work, yesterday morning, 

felt my ring snag on my jeans, as I went to stand up.

Didn't think much about it, tho... that had never happened before.

It wasn't until I got to the Store, reaching for a cart, noticed....

the 

large 

Garnet...

center stone...

was gone.

When I took a Tumble... down the basement stairs, several years ago,

 was directed to take all of my rings off, at the hospital.

{I was pretty banged up, everywhere... didn't want them to have to be cut off.}

Daughter, Liz... kept 'The Ring' for me.

Liz brought it back, later, in the

 'Fitting' 

Humpty Dumpty 

Box.

<3

: )

John gave that Ring to me, for Christmas... LONG Ago.

{35 years ago... I'd guess.}

; )

Was Stunned... when I opened the 

Pringles Potato Chip tube,

to find 'The Ring' carefully wrapped in a Mountain of Tissue,

at the bottom.

: )

{Thought Sure... Something was Gonna 'Pop Out'...

and 

Scare Me!!}

Hahahahahahaha!!

John, and I... rarely exchanged 'Gifts'.

<3

'Christmas' was About The Kids...

Family...

and Friends.

<3

If... we did 'exchange' Gifts, we'd get something we could both

'Use'.

; )

One year... we gave each other a 'Little Giant' ladder.

: )

After watching John... Teetering, on an Old Ladder, while building The House...

WE NEEDED THAT 'Little Giant' LADDER!!!

oh dear!!

; )

To Save His Neck...

and

my

HEART...

from

Stopping

while

watching John on The Old Rickety Wooden Ladder!!

YIKES!!

Noticed a while back... somewhere along the line, I'd lost a few of the Diamond chips.

That didn't bother me.

; )

{I've lost a few 'chips'... over the last several decades, too.}

Broke the band, twenty years ago... or so.

Never had it repaired.

That Ring... has been through Hell.

All of the lifting, and lugging.

It was Bent... Beyond.

{again... 'My Kinda Ring'!! : ) }

Loading concrete urns, and statues... took it's toll...

on 

The Ring.

It didn't really 'Hit' me... until after I got Home, yesterday, and sat down.

{still... struggling, today. damn it. : ( }

There was so Much... to deal with, yesterday.

While shopping for 'Thanksgiving', oh my...

Going over what I needed, in my head....

made me think of Everyone's 'Favorite' Things,

over my Lifetime, of...

'Holidays'.

What... Dad, used to like. John... used to request, The Kids...

Mom.

<3

So much has changed... over the last many years, concerning 'Holidays'.

Guess... That's 'Life'.

I'm... not very good, with

'Change'.

Never have been.

but...

Ya Figure it out...

and

make it work.

<3

I'm cooking a Turkey, to have all of the drippings, and giblets...

to make 

Gravy...

and,

The World's Best Stuffing!!

; )

Making Fresh... Cranberry Relish.

: )

Sinful... Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

: )

Dill Pickle Dip...

maybe...

maybe, 

a

Pie, or two.

; )

then,

 heading to Son, Justin's, with all of it, on Thanksgiving.

<3

Christy, and Justin... will have Quite a Spread, I'm Sure!!

Both...

are

Incredible Cooks!!

: )

I'm keeping a Close Eye... out for The Garnet.

It's like looking for a Needle in a Haystack, around Home.

; )

Looked for a long time, last night.

oh my.

Humpty Dumpty

will keep 'The Ring', safe... and sound, 

{what's left of it.}

for now.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.