Busy Season – Again
It’s December. Another year’s worth of rip-off calendar pages is in the can. It’s been nuts, as usual, and as much as I try to make it sound like I’d like for it to slow down, I really am ok with it, because it means I’m still alive, still breathing and moving and able.
God is good to me. And I don’t deserve it.
It’s been quite the whirlwind the last 6 weeks. A trip across the pond launched eight weeks of non-stop end-of-year activities that aren’t quite yet completed. Two weeks to go, and the breaks get slammed and I start a new schedule TO WHICH I AM GOING TO STICK! Did you hear me? DID I HEAR MYSELF?!?!?! Y’all get to hold me accountable whether either of us like it or not. Do your job and make me do less of mine – I give you permission.
But until then, let’s have some fun, shall we? Here’s what the last little bit of this year has held, with a little photo evidence of the shenanigating.
We start with the first of November and a ride on the big bird to the other side of the Atlantic. Ireland. Can I go back now, please? Greece, I do believe, will always be my favorite, but Ireland is the closest second place there ever could be. The scenery, the people, the food, the way of life, the way my curls were so happy on my head in the Irish weather. The Lawyer made Ireland burst with amazing life, and my Irish roots came alive. I loved every second of that trip. And I got to hold a baby Irish lamb!!!!!
Came home to celebrate my Daddy’s birthday. He’s an adult now, though when he’s acting up I may or may not call him “old man.” He just rolls his eyes at me.
Then one of “my girls” from our former church came through and I got to visit with her, her husband, and their adorable baby. Makes my heart happy when I get to see how well my girls are doing, and I get to squeeze their babies. I’m so honored they still let me be a small part of their busy lives.
Then came The Day Of Thanks. Turkey Day. Cornbread Dressing Day. Giblet Gravy Day. Fat Pants Day. A house full of people of all ages – 10 months to 81 years – we had it all. It was great fun, and lots of chaos. I didn’t take many photos because I was in the kitchen. I know, you probably felt that shift in the universe. It was me. I was in the kitchen.
And we all survived.
Then I got smart and decided to clean up the back yard foliage. Did I say “smart?” What I really meant was “lost my mind.” Remember that pear tree for which The Lawyer brought home the whiskey barrel for me to use as its planter? Well, it got a case of the “lean overs” chasing the sun, and I decided I needed to upright it. Nearly killed myself in the process. Too bad y’all weren’t there to video it. It was classic, I’m so sure. A story which probably deserves its own post; maybe if I get the time. (I crack myself up, ’cause who has time?!?!) Anyway, barrels full of dirt are heavy. Barrels half full of dirt are still heavy. Trees growing in said barrels can poke your eyeballs out, or at the very least scratch your face off. Not that I know that, or anything. But long story short, I got that tree uprighted and The Lawyer helped me get the barrel uprighted, and we got ourselves uprighted, and now we’re all tired. er.
Oh, by-the-way, I snipped a few branches off the pear tree, and The Lawyer snipped the topper off the olive tree, and we’re attempting to root them like we did the original pear tree. I’ll keep you posted!
So, November was gone and December off to a skippy start. Headed to Jacksonville on the 2nd for our 5th annual Dave Koz and Friends concert. He’s a Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist who puts on a fabulous Christmas concert every year with different jazz musicians and singers he brings along for the ride. Different lineup every year, and I think this year was by far his best. We listened, laughed, cried, clapped, sang, and relaxed. Check him out here:
The next morning we got up far later than expected but really didn’t have much of a set schedule, so we grabbed some Starbucks and hit the road, for our most important mission was underway. We had to go to South Carolina to get the fireworks for New Year’s Eve! There’s this amazing warehouse store right across the state line that has the big boomers, and gives The Lawyer a free T-shirt every time he comes in. Perfect combo. We loaded down the bus and headed home. Had a lovely ride and a fun question game we played. You should try it. Just about the time you think you know someone, a question comes up to which the answer makes you raise one eyebrow – and sometimes two eyebrows.
We got home with the contraband safe and sound, and then birthday fun started.
The Lawyer has this thing where he leaves me notes written on paper towels. He starts somewhere between 7 and 5 days before my birthday, and I wake up to a note taped somewhere letting me know the countdown is on. This year we had an amazing dinner on Friday night at my favorite restaurant, Savour. https://www.savourtallahassee.com/
Errand running, Christmas tree decorating, online shopping, and my favorite part….buying buggies full of toys and delivering them to the local hospital pediatric wing. We scour the Walmart and then load the toys up in a wheelchair and roll them upstairs to the wing. The look on the nurses faces is priceless, and we just turn around and walk away. The Lawyer doesn’t want fanfare, just a “thank you and Merry Christmas” will do.
Then we cozy up in front of our Christmas tree and exhale before the rest of the craziness of the season ensues.
And, lord, it’s crazy.
Then, a couple days after the birthday day, it’s back to the gym, and back to my annual challenge – climbing the rope. I realized the week before The Day that I had not, in fact, worked at it for quite awhile, and thought I’d better give it a go before the number on the birthday wheel changed. And what did I get? Failure. Two different days. Which, of course, did not fly well with me.
Now, in my defense, I had not worked out as much lately, nor had I fueled the body well lately, so I was weak. So I changed those two things and tried again the week after The Day. And what did I get? Success. Twice in one day. Double the fun. I was happy, and relieved.
And looking forward to my new schedule in three weeks. The one you’re going to make me stick to. The one where I go to the gym three times a week, without fail. The one where I give myself a little break, because at 57 I really do get to take a breath every once-in-a-while. Or so I’m telling myself.
That’ll probably spark a few extra visits to the counselor.
So, that’s where it is. Sounds boring, I know, but I’m trying to embrace it. Trying to maintain the fun while not killing myself. Trying to ignore the torn shoulder labrum and angry thumb tendon and focus on what doesn’t hurt, all-the-while being active, alert, and goal oriented. Time to write the list, pick the word, and plan for what’s ahead. I’ll keep you posted as best I can, ’cause I know my life just is riveting. Lord I wish y’all could see me roll my eyes at myself.
Have a great rest-of-the-year. Let’s finish strong, friends❤️
JustCallMeSharon 
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