Letters from the Past

A gift I got back in Oregon that I forgot to mention - and wanted to call out especially - is something my uncle brought from Connecticut. I opened a package from him to find a small pile of airmail and "V-Mail" letters. Turns out it's part of a collection of letters my grandparents wrote to one another when my grandfather was stationed in London during World War II. I'm about halfway through Grandma's letters to him, and haven't started on his letters to her yet. I'm absolutely over the moon about the pile, and my uncle says there's more where those came from. Obviously, most of their lives they were together and so weren't writing to each other - but there were a couple periods where they were apart, and I'm ever so glad Grandma was a meticulous record-keeper! I'm going to have to spend some time next year figuring out the best way to store and keep them. In the meantime, I'm just thrilled to have them.

Happy Holidays

This is my last day online for a few days, so I'll take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy Christmas. May you be surrounded by people who love you, this day and the rest of the year.

Holiday Chaos

Chris & I leave on Saturday to visit my mother for Christmas, and then we fly back east next week to spend New Years with Chris' family... I'm finally done with shopping, but does the to-do list ever get smaller this time of year? I don't think so. One thing gets accomplished (after which, if you're anything like me, you do a little victory dance) and then four more things get added to the list. What is up with that? Anyway, the pre-Christmas craziness is winding down, as there are fewer and fewer days left in which to get anything done. And, as frenetic as that makes me feel, I'm glad it's almost over.

In other holiday news, the splitting-a-water-buffalo idea is spreading - I know of two more Heifer International gifts which have been given as a result of hearing about what Chris & I decided to give each other this year. That makes me feel great, and is the perfect antidote to the long lines and congested roads.