CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR

Trudging to work yesterday with yet another bag with a Christmas gift, it is apparent that the mood has become festive. Workmates sneaking gifts to each other. Christmas cards exchanged between  hospital programs lighten the mood. Families returning to the hospital with gifts, chocolates and cards thanking staff for their wonderful care of their loved ones. Our doctors giving special gift baskets or trays of food to the team for their support during the year. Christmas is an opportunity to stop and remember people. Like Marjorie in Portland Oregon! Adolph and I met her on the beach in Waikiki on our honeymoon in 1971. We have exchanged Christmas cards, sent postcards and sometimes small gifts like the baby blanket she made for Natasha from colourful Hawaiian material over the years. We did not receive a card from her last year. Do I send one this year? Well I did with my chatty newsletter. Waiting in my email box was a message from her son! Expecting the worst, well actually not. Marjorie will be 97 next April. Her son helps with her Christmas cards. Marjorie had thrown out the envelope with the card and for some reason crossed out our address in her address book. She can get mixed up about things! He updated us and we sent our address to him. It makes Christmas happy and fun to have such events! Marjorie is still in the same house since 1955!! Then there are the moments of driving at night to some functions and looking at the beautiful Christmas lights on houses. The small Christmas moments such as delivering presents to the grandchildren and putting them under their trees. The enthusiasm of looking to see which present is for which person! The drive home with all the last minute frantic drivers trying to rush to stores for those gifts is also part of the Christmas moment. Can you tell I love Christmas! I am a Christmas groupie! Seeing smiles on people's faces brings joy! Like our dinner party last Saturday with good and beloved friends! An opportunity again to make an event special! There is more to come but the magic of Christmas is starting to happen! Can you feel it?