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It’s that special time of year…Operation List Generation. I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t exist without lists. I generate lists for shopping, lists for doing, lists for planning, lists for projects, to do lists; but my paramount list making time of the year is Christmas. I have to make a general list. And then there is a gift list, a to do list, a baking list, a menu and a grocery list, a list of stores that I must visit to get that special something, and on and on.  I come by this act of list making naturally. My mother holds the title, the Queen of Lists. She makes so many lists that she even has post it notes on the dashboard of her car reminding her which lists to check that day. She’s much more professional than I am as she saves all of her lists and many of her records date back to 1942. Good grief! I am not in her league but…

I am thinking that this year I will make some special lists. When the hoopla of Christmas is over and I can settle in quietly with my thoughts, I will go through this past year and list the things that I have accomplished so I’m feeling good about myself when it’s time to make that list of goals for next year. I’m going to make a list of special people who I want to be sure to stay in touch with. Maybe I’ll even make a list of kind things I can do for others so I don’t let everyday tasks get in the way. We get so wrapped up in the doing and the hustle of everyday life; we sometimes forget why we’re doing it. I’m going to remind myself this year what’s important to me.

It’s holiday time. Everyone is busy running around shopping, decorating, baking and making lists and feeling like they’ll never be ready. Some families have traditions that have been carried on for generations and others start new traditions. Either way, traditions are a way of connecting family together and making special memories that can’t break or wear out like a toy or a sweater. They give us the gift of celebrating our love and our bond we have together.

My husband and I started a tradition when our grandchildren were born – we do gingerbread weekend! And do we ever! The children are excited knowing its coming, my husband and I are pumped shopping like elves for all of the special candies and decorations needed for our annual project, and we prep the kitchen for flying icing. What started as a small house many years ago has now become a compound to outdo what we did the previous year. The kids arrive and the giggling begins. We laugh, we work, we eat, we lick icing, we laugh some more, we brainstorm on how we will transport the village to their home, and finally, we sit back and admire our work. Most importantly, we have time to focus on each other and add a new memory page to our book of love…and traditions.

I was getting ready for a meeting the other day, applying my makeup and had a phone call. I took the call, chatted a little and continued getting ready. While driving to the meeting I realized I may not have finished my eye makeup. I knew I put mascara on one eye but I was running a little late at that point and didn’t take a final look so I wasn’t sure if I did the other eye before taking the call. Now I was faced with a dilemma, do I look in the mirror to know for sure? I don’t carry makeup with me so if I didn’t finish, there wasn’t anything I could do about it. If I look and I didn’t finish, do I say something when I get to the meeting so I can get this out of the way immediately? What would my opening be? Will anyone even say anything to me or will they just take glances hoping I’m not aware that they are staring at me?  If I know and then act surprised, I would be telling a fib when I exclaim, “Oh my” and then explain what happened. It may be fine and I may have finished. I struggle with these little things that challenge my character; the big ones are much easier to know what to do. So what do you think…did I look?

It’s time to prep for Thanksgiving and I realize once again this year that I’m surrounded by the color orange. The branches on the trees are barely holding on to vibrant leaves before winter steals those few that are left. The grocery stores are filled with pumpkins, gourds, sweet potatoes; the rest of summer’s harvest. Because orange represents the changing seasons, it’s a color on the edge, the color of change between the heat of summer and the cool of winter. Van Gogh said “there is no blue without yellow and without orange”. It conjures up thoughts of good health, vibrancy, and warmth. Orange energizes and stimulates the appetite and encourages socialization which certainly aligns with a hearty Thanksgiving table. Think orange this week and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank a Vet every day, but make it a point today. Our son served in the military and we have many family members who either have served or are currently serving so I am acutely aware of their and their family’s sacrifices. We can’t take these brave warriors for granted and should be ever so grateful to them.

A number of years ago we visited my husband’s sister and her family. Her husband flew jets in the Navy and took us on the aircraft carrier. There was so much activity, everyone scurrying around doing their necessary jobs to keep all in tow and running smoothly. The sun was going down and suddenly everything stopped and there was total silence. The crew all faced in one direction and I had no idea what was happening until I looked in the same direction. It was sunset and they were lowering the flag for the day. I joined with the others and put my hand over my heart being truly conscious for the first time in my life how precious our lives are because of these brave men and women. I was honored and deeply moved to be a part of a ceremony that so many of us take for granted. I have never taken what we have as Americans for granted since then or forgotten those who make it possible, so thank you all.

Daylight Savings Time has ended and we are once again entering the dark days of winter. It’s time to dust off my Happy Light and sit in front of it for my morning bike ride to nowhere so I can trick myself into thinking that I am basking in a copious amount of daylight for a few months. It’s only been one day and I’m already bummed and the trick isn’t working. But, it did remind me of the darkness that is a result of the recent hurricane and how difficult it must be for those folks who are dealing with the terrible aftermath. That being said, I hope you have already donated to the American Red Cross to help get some light into the lives of those affected. This gave me an idea. We are told to change our batteries in our smoke alarms on New Year’s Day and the Fourth of July to keep ourselves safe. Why don’t we use the “darkness day”, Daylight Savings Time ending, to remind us to donate to the American Red Cross or the responders of your choice supporting those who aid others who have been placed into some kind of darkness. I’ve decided to annually shine some light on darkness day. Just a thought for you…

I do a lot of commission work and I recently finished a very large painting that took months to complete. Some folks asked how I could possibly let it go after working so hard and long on this piece. Actually I think they were sick of seeing it in my studio. Not a problem for me. Many artists I know have angst when a work is completed and it’s time to turn it over to the client/purchaser. I’ve heard it referred to as “their baby”. I on the other hand turn it over with a smile without any heart strings pulling at me. I am a process artist and the high for me is developing the work and not the finished piece itself. Maybe in some very miniscule tiny way it could be compared to being a surrogate mother (gestational carrier).  I’m happy to go through the development, discomforts, problem solving, aha moments to make it happen. When I turn it over I love watching the client’s reaction in those first few seconds of happiness knowing it’s finally theirs after anxiously waiting. That’s what works for me.

     Have you ever wondered about those little life occurrences that make you sing to yourself: doo-too-doo-too-doo-too and  you’re getting chills because you think someone who has passed just communicated with you? Sent you a sign that they’re thinking of you? Had a dream that you were suddenly awakened from feeling it was so real? Using nature to speak directly to you?

It’s fall in Pennsylvania and we’re surrounded by gusts of circling reds, oranges, gold, greens; it’s magnificent, but you never know whether these leaves are coming or going. They crunch under our feet and then suddenly jump from the ground and uncontrollably dance or idly float all around us and we are merely spectators like an audience in an interactive theatrical performance.

My husband visited our son’s grave the other afternoon as it would have been our son’s 33^rd birthday. We’ll talk more about that another time. Anyway, he was parked next to the grave with his passenger window ever so slightly open. Of course, nature was doing its ongoing fall dance calling in winter but…lo and behold, he got back into his car and sitting on the passenger seat was one lone leaf. It was just sitting there waiting to be buckled in as Joe often did; it had three dots placed perfectly as a face, two eyes, a mouth, and a crease right between these dots suggesting a nose. I like to think that through nature Joe came to see Ed just to say: “hi dad, I miss you too”.