Hello All, I am writing a titch early because no doubt I will be fast asleep when the ball falls in Times Square! Bob and I were laughing earlier about the fact that we have never really been New Year’s revelers. It has usually been a low-key event for us. Probably had something to do with working in healthcare, and either working or being on call. Or the fact that I love to sleep! It is amazing that at the end of last year I was writing about the same things I am writing about this year. Covid still abounds (variant number who knows what) – masks are still in…

Hello All, Merry Christmas! It is quiet in the house at almost 4:00 a.m. – several hours before Bob and Gene get up. It is just Geoffrey and me – and probably George’s Christmas spirit coming to visit, since Geoffrey woke me up at the oh-dark-thirty-time George used to. Geoffrey is eating his very early breakfast and purring. Soon he will demand to be petted, a demand to which I will happily (and sleepily) comply. I cut on the lights decorating the 10-foot tree, so they are twinkling quite merrily. The lights made me think about this story my bestie Pat sent to me – a story about Christmas and…

Hello All, My apologies for not writing last week! This year has just run away on me. I am behind in everything – and Christmas is next week! Stars above! Even Bob is behind schedule, which is exceptionally rare. He is way timelier than I am! He makes lists and develops timetables – I write a list, lose it, make a new list, and then do things I pray are on the list. (He usually lets people know that he tells me to be ready 30 minutes earlier than the real goal, so I hit at least a time that won’t make us late. Okay – I do own that!)…

Hello All, It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! All of you know that from Halloween until New Year’s Day is my most favorite time of the year. There are three signs that herald my most favorite season – trees, eggnog and Elf. Ahhh – the trees! As far back as ancient Egypt, plants and trees that remained green all year had special meaning. They were believed to keep away the evil spirits and illnesses. In many cultures, the evergreens served as reminders that the summer and green plants would return again. Christmas trees as we know them today started in Germany in the 16th century when…