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It started Friday. I got a card in the mail, from my Dad really, but everything

on it in my youngest sister's handwriting, except for 2 words: Love, Dad.

It was the first time in all my 53 years I had seen those 2 words together.

Mom was always the one who made out cards and signed them for both

Dad and herself. Now she is unable to do that. My Dad has never been able

to say "*I* love you", he always says "We" even though he lives by himself

now and Mom is in a care facility.



This morning I handed Tamsen her Christmas present, and was unable to

keep the catch out of my voice, and the tears from flowing. You see,

it is her last, I'm sure. And she loved her present, and knew it was

Christmas, and part of me was really really happy, especially when I

think of Arnold losing his boy a short time ago. But it's still hard.



And finally, last night when Paul and I were watching TV, we heard a

strange noise from the kitchen (sort of a "Tink") and he thought it

might be noises from the oven cooling down. We didn't think any more

of it until this morning we discovered a beautiful etched glass Christmas

serving platter had cracked, just sitting there on the kitchen counter.

It wasn't valuable, it wasn't really old, but I loved it and it cracked, and

I was sad.



Hold your loved ones close, gang. It's important. And thank you ALL for

just being who you are, and



MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Your post really moved me, Valerie, leading me to reflect...

Thank you

VALERIE, Bless you sweetie.. may your new year be blessed as well..

Yes life is so wonderful, we take it for granted so often.. this is our only chance to cherrish the here and now ... do it daily, over and over again.. xoxoxo carla..!!

Ahhhhhh christmas certainly moves our emotions.

My family gathered last nite our gifts ranged from the home made gorgeous painted ceramics of my sis in law, and home made beaded jewellery from me, to fuzzy house coats and delicate sweaters to travel gear and photos. A great large package was plunked into my lap and scrawled on the top was To mom, love Erin, Fred, Lindsay and pets, "i will explain when you open" I tore into it suspecting it was a picture as I felt the frame and glass through the wrap and there inside behind the glass was 18 years worth of memories, pictures of my glorious daughters from their first bath to their latest school pics and pics of all the pets we have had in our lives. There was one empty space, that was explained to me, that in there had to go the most recent picture of my youngest and our cat. It is my job to take that pic and finish off the collage. Oh I started to cry, my sis in law started to cry, then my mom and brother. My daughters were extatic. My best gift of all.

sorry didn't mean to hijack the thread, thought we could all reflect here

Awww Val tis amazing how our pets touch us and how inanimate things affect us. I was given the most delicate chrystal tinkerbell one year for christmas from my girls and I went to hang it hours later and it slipped from my hands and shattered. I was devistated. Months later my boss at the time returned from disneyland with a replacement. To date it is hung on a small stand in my curio cabinet.

*big hug*

All our beloved family members are loved during the holiday season. My kitty likes his catnip mousie that squeeks, and is chasing it all over the house.

I wonder who is trying to tell you they're still around, keepin' an eye on you, by sending that crack to your platter? That's what I think it is....do you think I'm nuts?

No, I don't think you're nuts... there is no reasonable or logical explanation

of WHY it cracked, so I'm open to anything.



It's not a big deal, just that I had enjoyed it so much for about 20 years.

And I don't think it's anything I DID per se... it wasn't a hot plate set

down on cold tile or anything like that. That I could understand.