Miscellaneous musings

The baby boy is still suffering with a really, REALLY bad sinus infection.  Several doctor visits, several med changes, and 2 weeks have not brought relief.  He finally saw Jim again yesterday, and procedural relief may be required Friday IF he's not significantly better by Thursday!  This has gone on so long.  Thank goodness he has Ali...suffering alone is awful.  

In addition, big boy has had a recurring cyst-like area on his back, that he THOUGHT he had taken care of surgically.  But while in Houston for Thanksgiving, the lump and redness reappeared.  Sunday found him back at the clinic for another procedure!  His dermatologist was reassuring today..but additional surgery may be required if it recurs.  


The uber high winds of recent wreaked havoc with trash, garbage cans, and hair-dos...also, Randy!

Several years ago our sons declared John was not to climb up to hang lights on the roof any more!  'We're too old'...but if we wanted lights they'd do it for us. For a couple of years, that worked fine...then they were in Houston, or they were sick, or they couldn't come home, or whatever. So we didn't have outside lights.  John couldn't stand it this year...

Meanwhile I made peace with our ancient Christmas tree.  

Every year I vow it's the last, but every year I re-box it for storage.  This year I've shopped for a more suitable tree (whatever that is), but have been unhappy with all I saw.  For one thing, it's hard to find an UN-lit tree anymore...but these over-sized, multicolored, ancient bulbs we use are tradition.  So here we go again...same old tree...same old lights...same old ornaments...but.....NEW location!   Actually, she looks pretty good for an old girl.

And of course, hanging on the tree is the much fought over Skiing Santa.  Neither son remembers why but this ornament became THE one each felt he had to hang on the Christmas tree... 

Fisticuffs often broke out over who would find it first and hang it front and center!  I began hiding the ornament until most of the decorating was complete.  And here are my adult sons, a few years ago, desperately trying to find Skiing Santa.  What fun-loving boys they were...and remain still.  

These two are my heart.

When I took the picture of me and the ladder and the tree, I sent it out to Jess and David and John, implying I was alone here at the house and about to climb the ladder to decorate. A message quickly came back from David..."Save me Skiing Santa to hang"!    

While going through our ornaments, I picked this one up and was struck with nostalgia.  

These women are dear friends from Austin, and came for a visit in 1999 shortly after we moved to Waco. One of the friends had these ornaments as gifts for each of us that day...it says, simply, Friends Forever above our names.  And how true that is...I treasure each one of these women and our 20 shared years in Austin.  That friendship continues even though we've been away from Austin well over 10 years!  

I am a lucky woman...