Health Trek Day 45

I wonder if there is some great universal scheme that all inanimate objects have made a pact that makes them break down at Christmas time. It is inevitable that the dryer will malfunction, the dishwasher stop working, the transmission on the car quit. Whatever. It happens every year. Something decides to die just when I am in the middle of the busiest time of the year. One time I planned to make everybody fleece lounging pants and was sewing my heart out when we had a blizzard which knocked the power out for days. DAYS!! So the result was I was up all night sewing in a frenzy once the power came back on. I have two sewing machines now, so if one breaks down I have another one. This time of year you need a Plan A and a Plan B. I always swear I am going to start making Christmas gifts in January so they will be all ready and wrapped by November first and I can relax for the holidays. I used to make gifts to save money. Now I do it because it seems like a tradition and in a world where not as many people knit and sew, People (most people) really like to get home made things, so I make them every year. Now just for those who actually request them. Socks are very popular. I can't knit them fast enough, and as soon as I knit a pair someone wants to buy them from me so I knit another pair. Haven't had time to knit myself some in months. I sometimes wish people had just one foot so I wouldn't have to make two of the same thing. Or perhaps I could knit one this year and make the matching one next year. Or start a new fad where you wear two completely different socks. Oh well.
So now I am working on the last minute gifts and praying that all the appliances will stay intact for just a few more weeks so I can get through this year without that hassle. I think maybe the Great Spirit of Christmas Cheer has to give us some grief so when the day dawns, white snow on the ground, family gathered around, it truly seems like magic that everything got done and is wrapped and under the beautiful tree that has only been re trimmed three or four times after the cat has knocked it down.
I wonder if all went smoothly, we found exactly what we wanted when we went to the store and I made all my home made products months in advance, would Christmas day be as special? Probably not. So I'll take it with all its flaws and foibles for the chance to see all those smiling faces when they open the gifts and gobble up the food and shriek with delight at all the games and plans that seem to happen so effortlessly. Bless their little hearts. No wonder someone made up stories about Santas and elves. It is hard to believe we can really make this happen every year. So for all of you who are the frantic elves and Santas that know and are chuckling right now and nodding your heads at the memories of being up all night Christmas Eve trying to assemble some toy that was advertised as "so easy a child could do it", I take my hat off and applaud you. Try to smile while you are running around frantically, mopping up the spills when the washing machine leaks all over the floor, and think of the perfect Christmas day that will happen next week, Thanks to you. And me. And all the others out there going just as crazy.
Have a great pre-Christmas week.
Rock On!

Christmas Poem 2000

The Christmas Chads

It was confusing
The print was too small
The arrows were pointing to nowhere at all
But whether the fault was the Print or the arrow,
Some ballots were cast with a margin too narrow.
The people all wondered, oh who will it be?
Who will win this Pres-i-den-cy?
Who will, oh who will and how will we know?
The ballots must be counted to settle this woe.
Newscasters predicted there'd be no Christmas season
The question of "who will" the sinister reason.
There was no sign of snow, no sweet Christmas sound.
The only white powder were the chads on the ground.
Be they pregnant or dimpled it just didn't seem right.
It looked like the counters would be counting each night.
They'd count all the ballots, or maybe a few.
They'd count them again.
Just once wouldn't do.
Some were predicting that the Season was spoiled
All the land's Christmas planning seemed to be foiled.
No lights would be hung, no shoppers or singing.
We would not this year hear the sweet Silver Bells ringing.
But just when the Grumbles and predictions were growing,
a light from a farmhouse came on and was glowing.
Soon others were glowing all through the town
and all the sad faces were turned upside down.
Christmas was here in spite of the squabbles
It came with a wreath, bright lights and gay baubles.
Storekeepers were happy as people went shopping.
The good season spirit showed no sign of stopping.
The magic of Christmas had happened again.
It was time to send greetings and think of a friend.
It would open each heart no matter how small
and bring joy to a child with a toy or a doll.
So I'll end this small tale
with a verse tried and true
Merry Christmas to all
And may GOD Bless you!

Judy Patt Hall
Christmas 2000

(Remember that election??)