Christmas Day in Maryland

Spending Christmas in Maryland with family is a wonderful way to share the holiday. Richard & Anna Gordon and Aaron and Rachael were here before us, also Lloyd and Judy. We arrived last night, as did Kim. Barb, Dan, Maggie & Ella will be here this evening. Emma Lou will have quite a houseful. She's so generous with her time and cooking and her house space. We are grateful and will enjoy our time here.

My Last Day of Physical Therapy - Mon, Dec 14!

Monday was my last day of physical therapy -- left over from my bike accident a year ago. I'd been going every monday for about 2 months as my leg (on the opposite side) was giving me trouble. The weekly sessions helped and this past week I had absolutely no pain at all, so it was time to end the sessions.

I still need to exercize but that's fine. I'm so happy!

Thursday night-Friday (Dec 10-11)

Still snowing 2pm

Thursday night it started to snow, after blowing most of the day. Schools were closed in anticipation of the storm, but the most we got her on Thursday was high winds.

Friday was a different story. It snowed all night Thursday and blew the light snow all around. Schools were closed again. Visibility was practically nil. The library was closed. I went with Gordon to his office where most of the patients were called and re-scheduled. Two were seen and the office was closed by lunch time.

We got stuck in the Post Office's exit driveway due to lack of visibility. We couldn't see the driveway at all and missed it (as had others before us because there were tracks). Gordon rocked the car & I pushed until we could back up into the parking lot. Then we turned & went out the entrance which we could see a little anyway.

We are grateful for our neighbor who took his snow blower to our driveway in the morning before we left and then again in the afternoon after we got home. Still it kept snowing until evening.

It took two to clear our driveway!

There were numerous accidents all around due to the blizzard-like conditions. Lack of visibility; lack of traction; lack of ability to stop quickly. It all made for a dangerous day.

I am thankful that we, and our staff, stayed safe throughout the storm.

Looking down Park St.

Advent Already - Where Does The Time Go?

Advent -- a time of preparation for the birth of the Christ Child on Christmas. I am thankful for many parts of this season, though not the feeling of stress that frequently accompanies it. I am trying this year not to allow stress to invade the preparations.

I'm discovering, as I mention what I am thankful for several days during the week, that it is often related to the weather. I am surely thankful for more than weather-related things, but it is frequently weather that I mention first. I suppose that is reasonable, since it often affects how I arrange my day -- what I wear, whether I walk, ride the bike, or drive to work. It also sometimes affects my mood. I always feel better on a sunny day than I do on a dark & dreary day. At least on a dreary day I have to work harder at being positive. But I am thankful for my life, even on a dreary day.

First of December – First Snow

This is quite late for the first measurable snow of the season.

I find myself both thankful that it held off this long and also thankful that it has finally come. I really do like snow, though not the travel difficulties that go with it. But I appreciate its beauty on the scenery and the quietness it brings.

So, today I am thankful for snow, its delay and its coming.