~PAST AND PRESENT~

As I sit to admire our Christmas tree..Winslow Homer has tucked himself as near to the wood stove as possible...Andy Williams sings holiday songs in the background...my mind wanders...I remember when I was a young teenager I wanted to marry Andy Williams...I think of Christmas's past and present... 

Christmas is to me a time of sentiment...a time to remember those who have touched our lives and those who... sadly... are no longer with us...December is my favorite month...it  is the month of my birth...but also the month of death... Both sets of grandparents, maternal and paternal ( as well as my dear mother in-law) passed away in the month of December... I find the goodness of this month...December is joyous... it is filled with "hustle and bustle" and the offering of  goodwill to men...It is a time to help those less fortunate...Here at Dog Trot we choose to support local animal shelters and play Secret Santa to the elderly ....I fondly recall those magical childhood Island Christmas's where Thumbelina, Chatty Cathy, Barbie, The Dating Game and Creepy Crawlers came into my life...December meant skating at the "Marsh" on long  moon lit nights...sledding down Roars hill...and building snow forts with my brother...we were "outside" kids...As children we happily participated in our school play and Sunday school pageant...knowing Santa would be making his grand entrance where  each child were given small gifts...Things have certainly changed since those days... I make a point of saying "Merry Christmas"...after all it is the birth of the Christ child...I have much to be thankful for... a loving family... a warm home...food to fill my belly...and most importantly Travis Lloyd who is doing his best to keep me young...December is the month of giving thanks and I thank my lucky stars every day...for both the past and present...