Hello, friends. Just a quick note from Tennessee today to say that all is well. Mother and Robin had the house beautifully decorated inside and out. After Christmas dinner we rode around and looked at the neighbors' lights here in Golf Course Acres. There were so many goodies to eat along with the turkey dinner I can't even tell you about them all. But must say that Robin's annual Caramel Pie is always a favorite and I just finished a slice of it. If anything is more rich and more fattening and more delicious, I don't know about it. It uses a whole jar of that caramel topping (for ice cream) inside and also drizzled on top of it for two pies. It's always such a delight to come "home". We ate lunch a moment ago and have retired to our corners to read or watch tv. Thought I'd add a quick update to say hello.

As I enter the driveway to the family home the memories begin to embrace me. Each Christmas Day I go back home to Tennessee to enjoy a turkey dinner with my Mother and sister. It's the one meal a year I get to have with real china and crystal and silver. After dinner I mosey over to the card table that's set up full of home made goodies. Shortbread cookies, marshmallow fudge, poundcake fruitcake, and more.

After dinner, we retire to the living room and pass out gifts. My Mother takes her usual seat. The white leather chair my Dad once occupied during this ceremonious occasion remains empty nearby; looming like a monument still honoring his presence in the family.

On the floor in front of the most beautifully decorated Christmas tree, Robin sits and digs for wrapped packages. She passes them around the room and we ooooh and aaaaah with satisfaction. Hugs and smiles display all around and soon we spread out and move to more comfortable settings to try on or play with our gifts. I may take a stroll on the golf course out back, walk the family dog, or take a nap in my old room. By evening, we gather to look through old photographs and watch old family films.

Much later when all is quiet, I will go to my father's closet, slide his suits down the rod and smell the clothes that still wait there. I see familiar sweaters I had bought him and a hat or pair of shoes that were his favorites. It's the one place I always go to be near him. Suits, sweaters and dress shirts still hang in their individual bags. Some don't. I push my face into the fabrics and breath in deeply, hoping for signs of his scent I found soon after he'd left us.

Nothing but tweed and herringbone. Starch and leather. I'm comforted nonetheless. I exhale as I close up the closet with a satisfied sense of purpose. Thankful for this odd connection we have together. I'll keep it close to my heart for another year.

Annual Gingerbread House Competition At Grove Park Inn
The houses are on their way to New York to appear on Good Morning America as they do each year, then back on display at the Inn. I'm so enthralled by these artistic and delectable goodies and the effort that goes into each one. I try to see them when I can, but haven't gotten back there lately. Every morsel must be edible.
Gallery and Story

On a side note: Sky went to see Lemony Snicket last night and the first evening feature was sold out. Guess it's going over pretty well.

Like earth, know balance
Like wind, fly free
Like fire, be alive
Like water...feel peaceful
Celebrate your life and enjoy the journey.
Happy Birthday, Robin!

It's Robin's birthday today. She's officially crossed over to the other side now. As her ahem, older (it's true) sister, and one who reluctantly crossed over two years ago, I'm part of her official welcoming team. So far, I haven't heard a peep from her yet today. Hope she's off someplace having fun.

T-shirt could become a best-seller

I got the idea for a Mom's t-shirt after hearing the latest lament from my own teen daughter. She can be quite nasty one moment. The next day, she's back to being nice. She's also been know to give me the evil eye and silent treatment when I committed the egregious offense of walking up to her and saying hello.

What I really love is when she comes up and gives me a big hug unprovoked. And the move is not even preceded by money exchanging hands. But I don't let it go to my head because soon I may feel the voodoo doll pain in my backside if I do.

This t-shirt slogan has been on my mind, "Parents have feelings, too!"

You develop thick skin as the parent of teens. If their door is closed, you learn to walk on by. Approaching them at the wrong moment led to many arguments and also to more ideas for a tee: "You're going to miss me when I'm gone!", "Just Bite Your Tongue, Mom", Or, "All I do for you and I get treated like this?"

If they come home visably bummed; well, that's tough. Do you march straight into their business? No. You have to gauge it to see if it requires something off-topic, like, "Want some hot chocolate?" instead. This is a verbal equivalent of a pat on the hand and let's them know you're there for conversation, if needed. Next move---theirs. This move comes from many "What's wrong?" queries which sometimes makes things worse. If after a reasonable amount of time they're still aggitated, you may offer a "Anything I can do?" I've had many verbal slings and arrows pierce the weak spot in my emotional armor so I know now to tread lightly during these teen dramas.

Mostly, you're left with just the very basics of conversation. Anything more and you're prying, smothering or even rambling. It comes down to space. We need to know when to give plenty of space to them and when to have plenty of space for them. And as hard as we try, we all end up getting our feelings hurt. I believe I like the "Parents have feelings, too!" after all. Either on a t-shirt or as our next conversation opener.

I'm glad I have this site on Blogspot. If it was still part of EBC, it wouldn't be working today either. I've having problems with my EBC and didn't know what in the world was wrong until finally I had the good sense to look at their website again today. They had emailed me a week ago to tell me about their move, but I didn't pay it a whole lot of attention. We're unable to FTP anything new to the server from Friday to Monday. Server is supposed to be up and running Monday, Dec 6.

Thought I'd better explain what's happening and why I had to miss the Saturday Morning Me. I tried to post it at 8:30 yesterday and tried every few hours in between coming and going, but kept getting a java error.

So that's the latest with me. Robin has posted again this weekend. She has four posts for this week. And Bob Dylan's on 60 Minutes tonight. Looking forward to that. Duke doesn't play again until Saturday, but I'm sure there's other good basketball teams playing that I'll watch, too.

Sending Love.....!