Happy Holidays!

Just a few more days before Christmas and a few more hours before Hanukkah arrives. The holiday spirit hasn't really hit me yet. I think part of it is that my grandson is gone until late Christmas day, so no one to make cookies with or for, no one to help me drag out my snowmen and scatter them about, no one to watch in wonder as we light the Hanukkah menorahs. I haven't even done that much shopping yet--although I have to say the economy is more responsible for that than Dylan not being here. His presents have been hidden away for weeks.

I haven't sent out Christmas cards for years. I never sent them locally, but to friends I have made while moving across the country. I always liked to include a letter in each, but in this day of instant Internet access, email, blogging, wikis and the like there just doesn't seem to be a need. Usually you get a birds eye view of my life right here at A Piece of My Mind. I have appreciated the Christmas cards I have received, especially those with pictures of new babies and grandbabies.

I keep hoping the weather will stay cold for Thursday. I've long since given up the notion that it will ever snow for Christmas in Dallas. The most snow we've ever gotten since I've been here was in late February and looked more like a dusting of powdered sugar on cookies. Right now they are predicting a temperature of 64 for Thursday--which I am sure some of my northern friends would love--but it just always seems more like Christmas when it is cold and snowy. As a child, I used to love to walk outside in my boots when it was really cold so I could hear the snow crunch beneath my feet. I can remember many trips to get our Christmas tree when Mr. Wagner and my dad had to bounce the tree a few times to shake the snow from it's limbs before putting it in the car. That was, of course, when I became old enough to understand that Santa Claus resided in my heart rather than the North Pole. Before that time, the tree magically appeared on Christmas morning, along with the story about how Santa brought it, decorated it, and carefully placed the holiday gifts around it. The magic that was a child's Christmas kept me from realizing the impossible task that would have been for Santa. It truly was wondrous to pad down the stairs in my new slippers and jammies--which I am sure my mother bought solely for photo opportunities--to a first view of the tree and and the presents.

I've been so fortunate to share most of Dylan's Christmas mornings. It is amazing to watch through the eyes of a child and see once again the magic of the season. Since marrying Eric, I've also had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Hanukkah with him and his family. Everyone usually gathers at least one night at our house to light the candles and share latkes, a traditional Hanukkah potato pancake. Funny thing is, I've always loved potato pancakes and my dad and I had been making them since I was a young girl. Thinking of those times and cookie baking times with my mother is making the holiday seem more real as I type away. Both my parents have been gone for such a long time, my dad for 23 years, my mom for almost 34 years but the memories of holiday traditions will always be in my heart. It is those type of memories I hope to leave with Dylan as well.

My wish for all my friends and family is a

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah & Prosperous and Safe New Year