Cemeteries, Feathers, Pennies and a Lost Christmas Letter
December 18, 2014
Last week after teaching my Zumba Toning class at In Shape Antioch, I decided to stop at the Cemetery where Andrew, Nic's friend, is buried. It's just across the freeway. Hello Andrew!
I realized he has the same birthday as Athena, the Zumba Baby. Sweet. This is a beautiful cemetery. So colorful! But you know how I love cemeteries anyway.
I also drove into the old section across the street. I love this. It reminds me of the cemeteries in Mexico. I'm sure these are my friend, Deborah's, relatives.
There was even a black kittenie who looked just like Ollie!
On another note, I was watching The Long Island Medium last Sunday. Theresa was reading a woman who had lost someone to cancer. Theresa asked her if she found feathers in odd places. She answered, "Yes!" Theresa told her that it was the spirit of her beloved. Then I came home and found this in my entry. A feather.
I, of course, knew it was my mother, who died of cancer, saying hello. My Little Honey Bunch said it was probably from the dead bird on the porch. WHATEVER! Nay sayer.
So this morning, I found two pennies oddly placed behind my night stand. I look at the years. One is a 1986. Hello, Baby! The other is a 1994. I don't know who that is. Mistake?
Then I go to Sports Basement over in Walnut Creek. I get out of the car and...I see this.
Hello, Mommy!!!!!! Mistake cleared up.
Oh yes and I found I DID do a Christmas letter in 2010 along with the Card. Was (past tense key) I ever on top of things! So here's the 2010 Christmas Letter. I'll add it in the post below, too, so I'll have them all in the same place.
Christmas Letters and Shopping
December 17, 2014
So I'm sitting here finally writing my Christmas Letter (ARE YOU GROANING? I CAN HEAR YOU!)...actually, I'm not writing it. You'll see. Anyway, I thought at some point I had corralled all my past letters into one place. I can't find that place. My handy dandy search thingamabob is failing me. So. Let me try this again. I may even have to make their permanent home on the side bar. I won't lose them there. I think.
The first one I can find is:
So there you have it! 2014 will be posted after Christmas and after you have gotten your hard copy.
I posted this on Facebook:
It tickled Nat to no end that I began and then finished my Christmas Shopping in 7 minutes. On December 15th. At 10:00 pm. She is almost as easily amused as me.
I Did It!
December 8, 2014
So last month I didn't post anything. This month, you aren't going to be able to hush me up!
Anyway, I was just excited that I got Christmas going. I did, in fact, pull out all the Nutcrackers!
Doesn't it seem like there were more before? Now I just have to wait for my Little Honey Bunch to get home so we can take a picture for the Christmas Letter (I heard that big groan!).
Ummmm. Is it possible that I might have a 'Collecting Things' problem?
I sure missed the Nutcrackers! As I mentioned yesterday, I didn't take them out last year.
I even took out the Nativity Scene I got a couple of years ago. They always remind me of my mom. She always made the most beautiful, elaborate scenes. Mine is not elaborate. It just is. I didn't put up the Three Wise Men or the Baby yet. You do that on Christmas, right? Sorry, I'm a good excuse for a heathen. Anyway, this is kind of my tribute to my mother. The painting is one I did a few years ago. It's an abstract of the spray on her casket, which contained yellow, pink and red roses. It warms my heart.
Alrighty, I've got the Nutcracker music going and I'm off to celebrate with an Eggnog and Rum. HO-HO-HO! Then I'll get to the business of writing the Christmas Letter (stop groaning!) and the Miserable Bitch story. The happy ending I've been waiting for should be announced soon!
December Once Again
December 7, 2014
I can't believe I only posted once in November. What is wrong with me? I need to start a yakkin'!
Do you remember the group, Expose? When ever December comes around, I think of their song 'December' (http://youtu.be/sGsiJ6p7sx4). Mostly, I think of my brothers when this comes on. "Why'd you have to go away?" Because Nene's birthday was December 1 and Baby died on December 5 and my Dad's birthday was the 19th. Hence, December tends to be a sad month for me. I try not to but I can't help it sometimes. Like last year, my sweet Little Honey Bunch and Nat picked out a Christmas tree and I never decorated, or even took the Nutcrackers out. When they ask me what I want for Christmas, or even my birthday, I always say, "No poverty and world peace." And I really mean it. But I still haven't figured out how to make that happen.
So looking back on December (and let's not talk about catching up on November -- or even July and August with the visit to Iowa, the Zumba convention and the Miserable Bitch story!), what I've done this month is take a selfie with my cat.
Made a lovely pot roast.
Made a lovely Chicken and Biscuits. This is the rue portion of the event.
I missed my brothers.
I manhandled my cat and made him into a hat.
I went to yet, ANOTHER, service at St. Mary's Cemetery.
This was for my 6th grade teacher, Mrs. O'Connell. There were many of her students in attendance. I must say, I was apprehensive about going. Let me tell you why, even though my classmates already know why. You see, I always thought she didn't like me because I wasn't one of the 'smart' kids. All my friends and even my 'smart' sister loved her and she was their favorite teacher. I wanted her to be my favorite teacher, but she made me feel stupid. I always said she was the reason I hated math.
Forty-five years later, I realized it was me, not her, who made me feel stupid. It was my insecurities not her inability to teach. Even through I had this love/hate relationship with her, she was one of the best teachers I ever had. I attribute my love of geography to her. How I loved her electronic maps she made of the US and world!
When we went to a St. Joseph's reunion 10 years ago, she was so gracious and welcoming to me. I thought, "I've been wrong about her for 35 years!"
Fastforward ten years, I learned that even though she loved her Catholic faith, she hated the hypocrisy of the church, with a passion. I learned that her son fell in love with and married a Muslin and that she welcomed her with open arms. I learned that, I, not she, was the narrow minded individual.
As her children spoke at her service, and remembered the Ayala's affectionately, I realized she was a beautiful human who did not deserve to be thought of in a negative way. EVER. Mrs. O'Connell, I apologize for being narrow minded and not taking advantage of your wealth of knowlege, your love of all people, no matter their beliefs.
You are a star.
Five of your Class of '72 Students.
And now, I better get my butt to bed so I can get up and teach my lovely Zumba Gold Class in the morning.
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