Lyrical Laments - 24. Chapter 24 Christmas in the Time of Covid

5 hours ago, aditus said:

Christmas time of miracles. And when you're out  with your dog and there's only one tiny stars glittering through a gap in the clouds, imagine we look at it at the same time and wave and lift a glass of red, a cup of coffee in greeting. 

To A New Hope 2021!

I will do that, Adi. I do have a bottle of cab I might pop open this evening, and I will be sure to raise a glass and wish you good tidings and joy for the new year.  Yes! Cheers to new hope!

On 12/24/2020 at 12:06 AM, Headstall said:

The only ones who can see my tree where it sits in front of the window, are the dairy cows next door, but I did just enjoy a cup of tea in front of the lights. It's funny what poetry does for me. I feel so much better after penning this one. Tonight my daughter is dropping off my turkey and groceries, tomorrow I will do some cooking, and Christmas Day I will see my youngest son when he picks up his food.   And then there are the phone calls from the other kids and grandkids.    All the best to you, em.  

Dear Gary,

enjoy Christmas Day and all the goodies you may be preparing for yourself. We will feast on deer tonight, Brussel sprouts in a cheese cream and I'll try a new potato dish. We just finished sampling our traditional Christmas cookies (old family recipes) and our "Stollen" (German Christmas cake).

Winter this year feels more like spring, no snow as yet and none in sight. Here and there a lonely violet in blossom in the garden. All the best to you, Gary!

em

3 minutes ago, mayday said:

Dear Gary,

enjoy Christmas Day and all the goodies you may be preparing for yourself. We will feast on deer tonight, Brussel sprouts in a cheese cream and I'll try a new potato dish. We just finished sampling our traditional Christmas cookies (old family recipes) and our "Stollen" (German Christmas cake).

Winter this year feels more like spring, no snow as yet and none in sight. Here and there a lonely violet in blossom in the garden. All the best to you, Gary!

em

All the best to you too, em. It's a white Christmas here... very pretty, and little flakes have been falling for about an hour now. My border collie loved chasing her ball through it earlier.  

I had my traditional turkey dinner yesterday, late afternoon, and my youngest son picked up his share last night. I'm worried for him... his work closed down for the next thirty days at least, starting today. It's the second time for him, but he seems okay with it. I'm doing well... just waiting for my kids to start calling.   Oh, and I have Christmas cookies too... my oldest daughter made them. 

Gary....  

I remember our tree growing up--always a live tree seven feet or so high, tinsel, old glass ornaments and the old large bulb red, blue green white and amber lights....
Later on, my sisters did themed trees that just seemed too artsy for me, so when I got my own place, I did a tree like the ones I grew up with, often many of the same ornaments, some garland, and lights that were a bit smaller, but still real bulbs.  Only one year did I try real holiday candles in silver clips, but they were too much of a hassle to light and then blow out.

Sigh...now that it's just me and one friend who would see my tree, and with my vision problems, I've given up the practice.  Thank goodness for the old animated specials like the Grinch, Charlie Brown and Rudolph...and the great movies like Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim, and the newer 'classic' Christmas Story.

Now if I could just find digital versions of my two favorite old Christmas organ and chimes albums...those played every year for as long as I could remember, and I have them still. 

30 minutes ago, ColumbusGuy said:

I remember our tree growing up--always a live tree seven feet or so high, tinsel, old glass ornaments and the old large bulb red, blue green white and amber lights....
Later on, my sisters did themed trees that just seemed too artsy for me, so when I got my own place, I did a tree like the ones I grew up with, often many of the same ornaments, some garland, and lights that were a bit smaller, but still real bulbs.  Only one year did I try real holiday candles in silver clips, but they were too much of a hassle to light and then blow out.

Sigh...now that it's just me and one friend who would see my tree, and with my vision problems, I've given up the practice.  Thank goodness for the old animated specials like the Grinch, Charlie Brown and Rudolph...and the great movies like Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim, and the newer 'classic' Christmas Story.

Now if I could just find digital versions of my two favorite old Christmas organ and chimes albums...those played every year for as long as I could remember, and I have them still. 

Hey, buddy! Christmas has really changed for me this year. It's been a struggle not to feel sorry for myself, but I managed. We used to have the same kind of tree you did, and my mother really enjoyed decorating for Christmas. I usually like it too, but not this year... I didn't see any point o it, and only put the tree up to tell my kids I did. Let's pray that next year the pandemic will be behind us. Happy New Year, my dear, dear friend.   xoxoxoxo

Two years later, this poem reminds me of how cruelly the Covid pandemic affected our lives so many different ways.  I am once again thankful that this is rapidly becoming history.  

7 hours ago, raven1 said:

Two years later, this poem reminds me of how cruelly the Covid pandemic affected our lives so many different ways.  I am once again thankful that this is rapidly becoming history.  

"This too shall pass" is something we all have to keep in mind when things get really tough. It was not easy to see the positive of that time, though. I am thankful, too, Terry, and hope we never have to feel that despair of isolation again. It's a poem I can now take some solace from.