It's That Time Again

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Gunny off on an APL cruise on the President Wilson.

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In thirty days we will be outta here. The bling packed, the sparkle rolled, and the weather checked. Who knows what to wear if we don’t check the weather.

How silly of us….or not. Most of the grandchildren are grown. Two are back east, and one is in Afghanistan. Two are away in college, one here soon to transfer to State, and others in school scattered here or there. The youngest is nearing 6. She will miss us, but it’s time for the parents to make their own adult holiday patterns after all these years.

We used to have big gatherings. I’d scramble my dry eggs and bacon for twenty or so and spread foodstuffs everywhere. As friends died or moved away, Christmas Eve became just family. Still scrambled eggs a la my mother, but I would wrap gifts in prewrapped boxes weeks ahead of time. No last minute rush.

Now with Lenora planning a move north, and Lessa making her own holiday patterns up north too, it’s time for us to make something of this time of year for ourselves. Last year we took a three day cruise south. This time, we will be out there seven days….unpaid. Though the Geezer has a job, thankyou thankyou, he will not have accrued enough vacation days for seven paid days afloat. You bet we will have a good time though. HAL is known for good holiday cruises.



Christmas 1968. Gunny died in 1966.



Christmas at the big house, 1987. Mother climbed the stairs for the party this year.