dughlas

Thanks sis. I wanted to make a smart comment but all I could think was ... damn I's gettin' old.

Thanks Val. Mum's having more difficulty today. Yesterday she switched into "nurse mode" and handled it at arms length, today she mourning the loss of her sister. Mum has now lost the two youngest of her three siblings. As the oldest that hurts. She can clearly remember the day my aunt was born. It was the era when many births were home deliveries. My aunt was born at home on a lovely day in mid-May. The house is no longer but was less than a half mile from my current home.

Greetings Albert. Hope you and Steve are well.

I hope so too.

Mornin'

Oh dear. Need to find something else then.

Nothing a nice cuppa tea won't fix. Perhaps a little Merciful Iron Goddess with a spot of honey to sweeten our bumblebee.

A merciful Iron Goddess?

Thank you.

Hmmm, there might still have been some use left in the old one ... it already has a cat/doggy door.

Thanks Marty.

I see we've reached 1981. The year my son was born.

Thank you Albert.

Thank you. She was a retired college professor and Field Hockey coach.

Still are. I have a pair.

Levi 501 button flys for me ...

1980, the year I was married.

She's well but today is difficult. We had a call early this morning that her youngest sister died. We've been expecting it as she'd been placed on 24 hour hospice care early this week. Still it's hard. The thing we are focusing on is the last nearly two years were difficult for my aunt. She had fallen and struck her head just after New Years 2018 and went from being a vital active woman who played tennis every day and taught Pilates to being mostly invalid. She and her husband, my uncle loved to dance. They danced at my son and dil's wedding. A few days later while still FL mum and I visited them at their home in Naples, FL. She and we spent an afternoon touring the Botanical Garden. I have pictures of she and mum admiring the thousands of orchids growing there. Whenever someone here mentions orchids I am reminded of that day. It was the last time we were able to do anything like that. I'm sorry that more answer than you expected but it's the first I've gotten to "talk" about my aunt. She was a bit more than 15 years younger than mum but looked so much alike that seeing her was like seeing my mum when I was younger.

Thank you Albert.

Mornin'. I'm sorry your Serenity has run out.

Mum watches the movie White Christmas every year.

Howdy Texy.

Either that or our beloved Blue-eyed Wolf must ... I have faith in you Adi. I know you'll make it a Merry Christmas for little Tristan. I am curious though just how you'll do it.

I had a nice chai latte. It was a chill damp day, meaning it never got above 50/10° and rained intermittently. Perfect for something sweet and spicy. Saddly, I had to settle for the tea which nonetheless warmed my tummy.

That was one hell of a lancing ... but now that the poison has begun to drain healing can begin. An excellent chapter. Best of the holiday to you may you escape unscathed.