Heading into the cold winter with no protective beard covering my face. I don’t know why. I looked in the morning mirror, my face took on an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia, so it had to escape. I’ll turn eighty in a few days, so I thought I might take one more look before I am of carbon dating age. Almost cut my hair, which would have been a futile effort. It happened just the other day. But I didn’t, I shaved off my beard instead (TYCSNY)

Christmas Dinner

Some family members are coming up from Texas for Christmas and New Year celebrations. My eldest, his wife and my youngest granddaughter. He is tall, where I am not. Good looking guy, great personality and he can actually dance. Yes, he takes after his mom’s side of the family. What did he get from me? My truck, but only for a couple of years.

It will be good to see them. I get down there occasionally; fly or drive Chuck on a scenic tour. The truth is, I am entering that age of grumpiness where being trapped on a plane with an overabundance of humanity is not the big draw it once was. So I don’t see much of the rest of the family, but I miss them a great deal, especially in this season of nostalgia.

Driving is fine. I really enjoy seeing the beauty of this wonderful country. Again, without an over abundance of humanity. It’s just that I encounter those stretches on the road where it’s pitch black, the road seems endless, and Chuck can’t sustain the desired speed of 300 MPH on cruise control. What am I taking about? Chuck doesn’t have cruise control, or power windows, or power seats. Just a solid V8, four speed auto and four wheel drive… when it is manually engaged.

So I am piecing together what to make them for Christmas dinner so they will feel like they are celebrating even if away from home. I’m thinking maybe pineapple glazed, spiral cut ham. Cloves? Maybe. I have to do some research and see if that works. It’s hard to screw up ham. Maybe sides of roasted red potatoes? Cheesy Cauliflower? I don’t know.

Definitely lots of cookie dough. Sugar, chocolate chip, oatmeal are all possibilities. That will be my visiting granddaughter’s territory. She is on break from Baylor, fresh off of finals and looking to share in the cooking without the laborious starting from scratch.

Over the years, they visited quite a lot; summers, winters and in between. So the area is quite familiar to them and they know where to find the best doughnuts, country breakfasts, ice cream, and sea food. Supreme tourists who blend in well. It truly is their home away from home and I see myself as the caretaker of what will eventually be theirs.

I took a shot

This year’s tree in all of its phone camera wide angle lens distortion glory. I really need to clean that carpet before they arrive. Guests will be arriving on the 22nd. I did not want to wait that long to get in the Christmas spirit and I did not want them arriving to a Christmas-less house, so I took a run at decorating the tree. At least the only approach of which I am aware.  Surrounded by pine trees of all sizes, I could not see murdering one for a few days presentation. So I hauled 80 lbs of artificial tree from the basement, with the historical complement of decorations, and this was the result. I am not done yet. Three lights are out and I need to top it off with a star or angel.

In any event, the best of holidays to all of you. May the holiday be bright, spiritual in the spirit of your choosing and time away from social media and all of the cynicism that too often it delivers.

Merry Christmas,
Joe