Made it through another Christmas season. Odd way to think of it, perhaps, but I've found that I can deal with the season more easily by not pushing it. Just try to enjoy the glimmers of Christmas feelings.
I did finish making my Mari Lwyd. I am fond of bizarre Christmas traditions, and the Mari Lwyd is right up there. It's a Welsh tradition of putting a horse skull on a stick and then going from door to door, having a poetry slam with the hosts and then going in and drinking their beer. Not having a convenient dead horse around, I got to work with EVA foam. Not that I had any place to take it, but now I'll have a new annual Christmas decoration.
I had to look at my favorite picture of Bob's last Christmas and tear up a bit. Playing Lego with Zeke. I hope that Zeke will remember him, if only a little, in years to come.
Jeff and Rob came through town on their way to visit Rob's mom in Niceville a few days ago so I got to visit with them for a couple of hours.
It's hard not to think of Christmases past. For years we ("we" meaning Rob, Jeff, Gill and her husband Jim, and Bob and I) would get together on Christmas eve. Eat too much, exchange gifts (usually silly), play the British game of pass-the-package.
But Rob and Jeff moved, Bob is gone, and Gill is dealing with too many health issues to party much.
Rather than stay home and be morose, I went into work. Christmas or not, the animals have to be cared for, and it helps my friends the keepers if an extra pair of hands show up. Afterwards I went to Rik and Christy's - they normally don't do much for Christmas except stay in pajamas and watch movies, but Christy's mother and brother decided to visit from Jacksonville. Rather than cook a "proper" Christmas dinner, Rik decided to set up a hot dog bar. So that was fun - easy and informal and I didn't have to worry about wearing my slightly grungy museum clothes.
The year is winding down. Over the next few days I'll review 2023, see if I learned anything from it, and what sort of legacy I have left for 2024.
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