Holiday greetings!

Once a year, the world gives to one another. We give toys, we give food, we give money and we give gifts. We give time by volunteering, serving meals, wrapping gifts or spending time with others.

What it boils down is that we each create our own holiday identity. Some of us are known as gift givers. Some of us are known as bakers, makers of those fabulous Christmas cookies or truffles. Some of us are decorators, bright lights, figurines in the yard, beautiful wreaths.

As a kid, it is about getting to the bottom of the stairs first on Christmas morning. For teenagers, it is about the home cooked meals and seeing old friends again. When you are a parent, it is about watching your child open their presents. When you are a grandparent, it is the double joy of watching your children and their children.

My identity – I write this holiday letter.

No matter what your holiday identity, we all somehow mesh together. The bakers mingle with the decorators, the wrappers help the non-wrappers. Our main goal is the same and for a short time, a common one.

We want everyone to have the best holiday together.

Poetry Thursday (a day late)

youth spent on Forest,
then upon Clifton,
Centrally located just West,
times were Great for a while,
tucked away in Foskett,
relocated Centrally West,
starting anew with Washington

My life in boxes

As I sit here typing, I am surrounded by boxes. My life in boxes. Books, pictures, toys, recipes, everything packaged in cardboard. Cereal boxes to be exact.

Packing actually goes very quickly:
Grab the box
Pick up the item
Wrap item, if needed
Place item in box
Repeat until finished.

I have generated a lot of dust while packing, clear evidence of my cleaning skills or lack thereof. It has also been a fun trip down Memory Lane. Cards from old friends and colleagues bring smiles amid the dust-induced coughs. I have found prayer cards from various funerals, a bittersweet thought.

Having my life in boxes will only be temporary and the new house is nicer and bigger. But what a lot of work to get there!

It is what it is

I don't know who coined the phrase, it is what it is, what was initially heard once or twice is now making it's way into the mainstream. I am torn about my reaction. While I agree that there are things that cannot be changed, there are an untold number that can. By using this phrase, does that mean we will accept things that are wrong and not change them? Or is it simply a cute phrase that helps us deal with difficult decisions?

I started this blog yesterday and then dashed off to my yoga class. Sure enough, during my yoga class, the teacher used the phrase!

Here's my question: If the phrase, it is what it is means that we should accept the world around us, why do we root for those change it?