Celebrations et al

Well, I don’t know about you, but I thought that was easy. Christmas Present has become Christmas Past. New Year’s is visibly rushing in like the tide during a full moon. JoJo is getting over a bad ear infection. He was even well enough for me to give him a full body trim. Really, I put him on a towel on the couch. He sees the scissors and just falls on his side. When I am done with one side, I gently flip him over like a frittata and finish. The perks of having a four-pound dog.

Residents who were swept away for holiday family reunions are trickling back in. Room is made for gifts received. Naps are taken because all of that merry-making is exhausting. When it comes to Christmas, there are two sides to being older and living in an “independent” retirement community.

(+)You don’t have to cook and clean and decorate and host

(-)You don’t get to eat those persimmon cookies you love because you are the only one who took the time to make them, which is actually a (+) because it keeps you from eating 32 of the 36 cookies you made.

(+)You sit, you eat, and you enjoy the company of your family. Then you go into the living room and sit on the couch with your feet up on the ottoman.

(-)You sit on the couch with your feet up on the ottoman because your brother got to the recliner first. You didn’t know he could still move that fast.

(+)If you stay overnight, your family will make sure you have privacy and a decent bed. The last thing they want is for you to end up in traction. If you are super lucky, you have your own bathroom.

(-)You miss your bed

(+)Soon enough, you will be chauffeured home and will sleep in your own bed.

(-)You miss your family.

Some of us stayed put. Some of us (me) have no family close enough to invade. (I mean visit). Some had family come to the Christmas Eve Brunch. Some had family come to Christmas Day Brunch. It was fun to watch the mini parades. The host would lead, followed by the Matriarch or Patriarch, then followed by the son and or daughter, and then, the grandchildren (usually in their teens or twenties, usually 3-6 of them) would trail behind. Darling duck families with their precious ducklings all in a row, being led to their table. I must say, the meals were excellent.  And everyone had somebody. A group of three widows could be seen sitting together and laughing. An occasional couple sitting across from two empty chairs seemed comfortable and at peace. I was invited to Geri’s table. Three of her children, and their spouses, welcomed me to the group. Geri beamed with pride at her fun and caring brood.

So, now we are here, that in-between week where red and green turn silver and white, and we seniors still believe in new beginnings. I guess hope does spring eternal.

Happy New Year!