Day 358 ~ Ambient Abandon

December 24, 2014

My Instead: I went to my girlfriend's house an hour and a half away in Farmington, Missouri to spend Christmas Eve with her.

I have NEVER been out of town on Christmas Eve. Whether I have a family gathering to go to or not, I have never been away from the ambiance of my home. I've been out to dinner or have had people over for the evening, but I have never traveled more than 10 miles anywhere on this special night. But tonight, my girlfriend Annette was in Farmington, Missouri because she had to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Originally, I thought I had to help my mom peel potatoes for her famous potato salad, but we did that the day before. As it worked out, I was able to leave Belleville on Christmas Eve.

Annette was thrilled that I would be traveling her way to spend the evening with her for our first Christmas Eve together. She invited her/our friend Mary over for dinner. Mary lived close by and was alone for the holiday. We enjoyed a nice dinner and conversation with one another until Mary left to go to her home just around the corner and up the hill. Annette and I cleaned up the dinner dishes and settled into her Christmassy living room, surrounded by our gifts to each other. With Christmas songs playing in the background, we opened present after present. We talked and laughed and were both grateful for having found each other and our love…a blessed Christmas Eve and well worth abandoning my home for the evening.  

Day 357 ~ Twilight Tour

December 23, 2014

My Instead: I drove my son's side-by-side buggy around the neighborhood.

It was my Tuesday to watch my grandson Andy, but today I also had my granddaughter, Abbey while she was on Christmas vacation from school. Not caring what we decided to do together, I asked them what they felt like doing…Chuck E Cheese was the resounding answer. After jumping my car’s battery in their driveway (I had left my headlights on) and stopping by my mom’s for a bit, we were on way to Fairview Heights to visit their favorite mouse’s hangout.

Once we got our wrists stamped to insure the establishment that I would be leaving with the same kids I brought, Abbey was off and running with her little container of tokens leftover from her last visit. She was a pro at what to do and what she liked. Of course, I had to contribute some more tokens when she ran out of the ones she brought. I also provided the pizza when she and Andy ran out of steam and needed to refuel. We had a blast playing games, navigating the tubular maze and slide, gathering tickets, and watching Chuck E and his friends perform on stage.

After several hours, our time and my money had run out. My daughter-in-law Shaundra was on her way home from work so I said I would take the kids back to their house, reminding her of my intended “instead” to drive their side-by-side buggy. I had wanted to do this ever since they got it earlier this year. And after all, it was the perfect “Christmas Eve Eve” evening to do this!

Christmas Eve Eve Sunset

Maneuvering the buggy out of their garage was the hardest part, but Shaundra and I managed. We got the kids covered up in the “Andy Blanket” and were on our way down their driveway and off to the neighboring subdivision. The evening was warm for December and an amazing sunset was being created right before our eyes. Christmas lights were turning on one by one to add just the right touch to this PERFECT yuletide tour. And to add to our further amazement, we spotted a rainbow for which Abbey wanted to follow and find its inevitable pot of gold. But our treasure was right there in that buggy on that magical evening.

Chuck E Cheese Photo Print-Out

Carousel Fun

Totally Tubular! 

Cuddle Up!

Ready to Ride

Sunset in the making

In the driver's seat

Sunset's effect in the East

See the rainbow?

Day 356 ~ Indoor Nature Fix

December 22, 2014

My Instead: I gave a framed photo of a nature scene to my less-than-happy client for a Christmas present.

I have a widower client for whom I’ve been cleaning since March. From what I’m told by him and my aunt who lives across the street, he had a wonderful wife. She is gone now and he is alone, sad and a bit angry. The last time I worked for him, he made it perfectly clear that he’s never been into Christmas…ever. I was somewhat surprised, hoping that he had just become this way since his wife’s passing in July of 2013. It was difficult for me to imagine someone NEVER being into Christmas!

When I arrived at his house, I handed him his Christmas from me as he sat in his chair. He asked “What’s this?” I told him it’s a little something for him for Christmas. As he removed the wrapping, I commented that I hoped this photo could be his “nature fix” when he couldn't make it to his property by the Kaskaskia River. He looked at the photo and admired it. He uttered his quiet “thank you” and started reminiscing about his land. I knew he missed it when he couldn't get out there to walk his Doberman and enjoy the fresh air on a regular basis.

I sat and talked with him a while about a job that he wants me to do regarding painting his living room. I offered my advice about the color and perhaps selecting his new couch before he chooses a paint color. If he needed anymore help, I offered to go with him to make his selection. After our little chat, I did my usual chores in his home.

When I finally finished my duties, he paid me with a little bit extra for my Christmas gift which I did not expect from him. I was grateful and gave him a hug to wish him a wonderful holiday. We talked a little bit more (longer than usual) about his estrangement with his only child and his holiday plans. Then I left him alone with his dog Torri. As I drove away, I thought about the emptiness in his life and hoped that in a small way I had filled a tiny corner of his world.

Day 355 ~ Simple Wonder

December 21, 2014

My Instead: My girlfriend Annette and I took a walk in my neighborhood to see the Christmas lights with two of my grand kids, Abbey and Andy.

Time to babysit again! My son and daughter-in-law had some final gift wrapping to do without little eyes running around, so I said yes to my son’s request to watch his daughter and son. Kyle and Shaundra brought the kids to my house in the late afternoon and then we got busy. Abbey painted her new birdhouse that I had gotten her for Christmas while Andy painted the head of a broken yard ornament. Continuing from the previous night, we played some more of the bean bag game and later we had a tea party with Abbey’s new tea set. Cheers!

Nighttime greeted us with the flicker of Christmas lights outside and since the evening was pleasant, I suggested that we take a walk in my neighborhood and check them out. Abbey was all for roaming the streets to see the beauty of the season. Andy wasn't much into walking, so my girlfriend Annette and I took turns carrying him. As we admired the illumination around us, we shared so many thoughts and memories of this time of year. I loved our little yuletide exchange and was grateful to have this special time with Annette and my grand kids enjoying this “simple wonder”. Oxymoron or not, I would never want to miss out on this!

Day 354 ~ Christmas Kids

December 20, 2014

My Instead: I had a different activity (bean bag toss) at my Christmas gathering this year.

The race was over. December, oftentimes a blur to me, was coming into focus as the evening drew near. The online ordering, the shopping, the wrapping, the decorating, the cleaning, and the food preparation were crossing the finish line and I was the one who was out of breath. Does it have to be this way? Does there have to be so much to do? No, but my Christmas is a reflection of me, so I really couldn't do it any other way.

Everyone started arriving at 6 o’clock in the evening. Time to eat, call my out-of-town son, and take family and group photos. Of course, we had to sing Jingle Bells, open presents, do the annual gift exchange, and take the thirteenth annual trivia quiz about last Christmas. Last of the gifts were my personalized photo mugs and calendars to everyone. Now, it was time for the new activity…the bean bag toss. Things were starting to wind down and I was just about ready to just skip it, until I saw a spark of energy still flickering in my guests. I set up the bean bag game, laid down the tape markers for the three different age brackets, drew names to form six teams with each kid as the captain, then let the games begin. Everyone was up and inhaling their second wind. It was amazing. The good sportsmanship and cheering filled my basement like fog on a cool morning following a warm night.

The spirit continued after the winners (my nephew Aidan took first place) were announced. After the game, the kids got a little rowdy with bean bags flying everywhere, but cousins spending time together makes for wonderful childhood memories. 

My “instead” activity was a hit and was thoroughly enjoyed by all the “kids”. After all, there’s a kid inside each one of us. We just have to let ‘em out and play once in a while. 

Day 353 ~ Costco Race and Chuck E's Place

December 19, 2014

My Instead: I went to Costco Wholesale with my daughter-in-law instead of Sam's Club with my sister and then met my sister and her family at Chuck E Cheese for her son's 6th birthday.

Every Christmas season my sister Karen and I make a trip to Sam’s Club to shop for the last minute food items for the Christmas celebration at my house. Karen has a Sam’s card, so she is my ticket into the place. This year, however, my daughter-in law Shaundra offered to take me with her to Costco Wholesale. I think I've only been there once and that was years and years ago…so Costco it was!

When Costco opened at 10:00, Shaundra, my grandson Andy, and I were on it. The store was buzzing with Christmas shoppers and we were part of the buzz. Even though I am NOT a list maker, I had my list. The “amazing race” began as we searched the aisles for each item. But then there were also the detours for things not on the list and all those sample-tasting stations. All and all, the adventure proved to be a fun time as Shaundra and I exchanged our little quips back and forth.

The rest of my day was filled with more shopping, wrapping and logging onto my Christmas spreadsheet…lots to keep track of. Then I remembered that it was my nephew Aidan’s 6^th birthday. I called my sister’s phone to talk to her son. My aging vocal cords belted out the traditional “happy birthday” song to my sweet little nephew. Then his big brother Connor took over as big brothers often do and my phone conversation was more with him than the birthday boy. He invited me to meet them at Chuck E Cheese for pizza and games, but I reminded him that I had a Christmas party the next night. He immediately said “Oh, you have to get ready for that!” Connor is well aware of the “production” I have at my house on Christmas, so the subject was dropped as far as my going to Chuck E Cheese.

It was in the parking lot at Shop ‘n Save where I decided to take Connor up on his offer to join them at Chuck E Cheese. I made the long trek to Fairview Heights and snuck in to surprise them. I got the biggest hugs from Aidan and Connor…that’s what I’m talkin’ about! And then we were off! There were tokens to spend, games to play, and prize tickets to win. We had a blast with football, skee-ball, air hockey and race car driving. As it turned out, my intended 15-minute stay grew to an hour and a half. A kid’s gotta do what a kid’s gotta do. And the kid in me was doing it!

Later at home after all the Chuck E cheer, I “settled back” into my Christmas craziness. Will my “little” visit to my nephew’s birthday celebration make me late for Christmas?  Never.

Costco Adventure

Skee-Ball

Aidan, Chucky and I

Air Hockey Competition

More Air Hockey

Karen, Aidan and I

Day 352 ~ Just Go There

December 18, 2014

My Instead: I took an evening walk down a street that was not in my neighborhood.

It was past 10 o’clock at night and there was still an “instead” to do on my “to do” list. After a few hours of last-minute Christmas shopping, I drove home while thinking about what I could make happen. And then it happened! My car made a quick right turn onto South Virginia Street off of McClintock. I made a U-turn to park on the “permitted” side of the street, put my coat on, and got out to take a walk. No big deal, right? Right. But this was not my neighborhood and I had no destination in mind…at least not geographical. What could possibly be there for me?

I zipped my coat to keep the chill of the night air off my bones and pocketed my hands to keep my fingers from cracking any more than they already had. Let the saunter begin! Ahhhh…it was a crisp, quiet night and there were still some Christmas lights illumined on scattered houses just waiting for me to see. Most of the homes were bungalow-style and reminded me of the second home we bought during my marriage. I saw no signs of life in any of the dwellings, but I wondered who lived within their walls. What kind of people were they to live on this long-established street in Belleville? Were they older and had lived there most of their adult years or were they young and starting a new life? Were they honorable people living a good life? I didn't want to think otherwise. Investigating the distinctions among the houses, the yards, the parked cars, and the decorations kept my brain heavily occupied with its usual analysis. Hey, it’s what I do. 

My head swam with reflections, taking me to a welcomed placed I had no idea of visiting, especially two days before my Christmas celebration. Where my mind and I had been for the last month was nowhere to be found. What I did discover was that there is life beyond the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. And taking a brief 20 minutes to just “go there” was indeed no waste of time.