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not grumpy - thankful

moss covered bricks, littered with the remnants of fall and the beginning of Christmas

I broke down and put some Christmas music on yesterday. 

I’ve tried a few other times … it just seems wrong when I haven’t roasted a turkey yet.  I blame my brother.  He was visiting and was all like “Its Christmas all day, every day, Missy.  You don’t know…”  Being a good big sis and all, Christmas music was cranked up on the ipod. 

Confession:  something happened and I’ve been streaming an off-beat Christmas station today.  The Holidays are clattering and clamoring and I’m pretty relaxed – odd.

Like an old VHS tape (remember the sticker on them, “please be kind, rewind?”) I’ve been rewinding and re-watching this last year.  A thumbnail:  upheaval, chaos and disorder, uncertainty, fear and confusion were the adjectives.  We were moving; packing up our life to regenerate it in a town once known as home in distant corners of our minds.  Do minds have corners?  I know, random.

That move brought baggage.  More than I realized at the time.  While I was thankful for many things, I was grumpy and displaced; not exactly doing a happy dance to the thump of the Thanksgiving refrain.

I’m not going to say that all is a lovely skip in the park on a cloudless day.  Just watch the news; there’s plenty to be alarmed about, but my soul is in a quiet place.  Because of that, I am content.  I am thankful.

a darling man to love, Bella dog who lays at my feet
grandchildren who knock me over (sometimes literally) with their exuberant affection
eyes to see, arms to care and words of encouragement to speak

mountains and skies cluttered with clouds
trees that sway ferociously in the wind and leaves that whip around

food in my cupboard and a body that gets weary
the ability to help, as well as the ability to cry
sometimes tears are all we need

i have people to love
causes to stand for and things to do

In a couple of days, I’m going to roast a turkey, give myself license to listen unabashedly to Christmas music – yes, I listen to Christmas music… and be very, very thankful for all of the blessings and circumstances in my life, my community and my world.

My list tumbles wildly from my quiet spot –

Missy


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  1. sewsavyNovember 24, 2015 at 6:46 AM

    Love how you say this, Missy. So true, so true. I've been playing Christmas music already too. In my sewing room as I stitch up holiday gifts and necessities. Mannheim Steamroller is year round music to me but not every one agrees. On Saturday, my daughter came over to bake Christmas cookies with me. Music was a must. We store them in an old popcorn tin till the holidays. Then disperse them around the neighborhood. I really can't start Christmas preparations too early here. Thanksgiving was a bust for me as well last year. Christmas only slightly better. May this season bring us both that extra joy. Giant hugs.

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    1. Missy ANovember 24, 2015 at 6:19 PM

      Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. From reading your post, it sounds like you will have full house. Today, it started snowing, like 6 inches and still coming down. It looks like a winter wonderland - perfect for Christmas.

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