‘TIS THE SEASON……!

Shirley M. Carolan , ATM-G

Yes, ‘tis the season to be merry and I’m doing just that.  This year I wanted to be more prepared for the upcoming holidays and I am.  No more a bystander but an active participant.  Just before Thanksgiving I stopped to buy some cards and a few poinsettias for neighbors and friends.  I had a wonderful time addressing the cards with messages unique for each person.  Then I wrapped the pots and put each in a Holiday bag and trotted off to deliver them.

First on my list was my neighbor down the street, Gayle, who has been walking my dog, Teddy, for me with her little Shih-Tzu, Maggie.  He’s gone on many play dates with Maggie and has come to love her.  Then on to my next door neighbor, Theresa, who is a very good and considerate neighbor.  Throughout the year she bakes goodies and shares them with me.  Both ladies were pleasantly surprised and it made me feel good to honor them.  The last gift I saved for my friends I would spend Thanksgiving with along with a bottle of cognac. 

I am also grateful that my health is finally on an upturn.  To be off oxygen 24/7 and not huffing and puffing my way to the mailbox to pick up my mail, or lying in a hospital bed wondering what the hell happened is like a miracle happening.  I’ve even started back doing exercises at a great fitness room at the local Oceanside Senior Center.  Their treadmills have two small fans embedded in them that can be used during exercising!  How’s that for being spoiled?

Speaking of the Oceanside Senior Center – this week when I visited I admired the lovely Holiday decorations – trees, wreaths, poinsettias, etc. The lady behind the counter asked me if I'd like to have a poinsettia.  At first I was stunned than said “Yes.”   She asked “Red or Yellow?”  Whereupon I said “Red.”  Don’t you know this kind woman gave me two pointsettias to bring home – a red and a yellow one!  How’s that for good luck!

While I still haven’t set up a new web site, since I “lost” the one I had for seven (7) years because of an error with Go Daddy back in August, I’m putting this on my goal list for 2014! I would like to learn how to do this myself and I feel it’s a goal worth my time and talents. I did hear finally from the CEO of Go Daddy, Mr. Blake Irving!  He called and apologized for the “error,” said he’d refund my money and suggested I check out www.archive.org to see if I could pull my website up.  While I still feel a piece of me is missing since I "lost" my website, I am grateful for his call.  It has renewed my faith in corporate America.  Plus, it saves my filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau about Go Daddy.

Lastly, this week I put up my outdoor Christmas lights, wreaths, etc. Recently, I bought colored Christmas lights for a change, instead of the all white ones I've had for 13 years.  I really like the difference.  Now I'm deciding whether I should also put out the family of white rheindeer that I have.  H'm.  Next, I hope to finish the calligraphy for my Christmas cards and get them mailed.  Wow, I've never been so early or ready for the holidays - it's quite fun actually.

What's one of the most important things I've learned this year?   I’ve learned that growing older is not for sissies!  So, I’m going to dedicate my time in 2014 to keeping good health, through exercising and diet and to getting more of my writing published.  That should keep me off the streets!  What are you going to be dong?

Now on to spending a wonderful Christmas with friends!  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Shirley M. Carolan, ATMG
Writer ● Speaker ● Artist
artistwithaflair@att.net
Phone/Fax: 760-732-0663

http://www.angelscross.blogspot.com
http://www.smcarolan.blogspot.com

Copyright© 2013 by Shirley M. Carolan. All rights reserved. To reprint any part of this article simply contact Shirley Carolan at artistwithaflair@att.net. Thank you.