December 2011

IT LOOKS LIKE I GO IN SIX MONTH CYCLES. SO HERE WE ARE READY TO MAKE 2011 A BANNER YEAR WITH THE ADDITION OF A NEW FAMILY MEMBER, BABY BOY RICHARDS PRODUCED BY HIROKO AND MICHAEL. "THELAST SHALL BE FIRST" IN THE MARRIAGE AND BABY PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT. WAY TO GO KIDS!

WE ARE HAVING SO MUCH COMPANY IN DECEMBER THAT MY HEAD IS SPINNING. WHEN SOMEONE LEAVES IN THE MORNING A NEW GUEST ARRIVES THAT EVENING. THIS MIGHT BE THE SECOND YEAR THAT CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WILL BE MINIMAL. THOUGH I LOVE IT WHEN KENT AND BEN PUT THE FLYING SANTA ON THE ROOF WITH THE RUNWAY LIGHTS. THE OCEAN BREEZE KEEPS THE WINGS FLAPPING AND OF COURSE THE PROP IS ALWAYS SPINNING. JUST NEED A COUPLE OF POTTED POINSETTIAS ON THE FRONT ENTRY WITH THE SPOTLIGHTS AND THE FOUNTAIN LIT AND WE'LL BE ALL SET.

OUR BABY JESUS WILL BE LIVE THIS YEAR AND THE KIDS WILL STAY WITH US FOR A MONTH TO LET MOM REST AND ENJOY HAVING HELP WITH THE BABY. ARE WE EXCITED? OVER THE MOON!

AFTER THE MACY'S ANKLE DISASTER IN APRIL, MY ANKLE IS ALLOWING ME TO WALK WITHOUT PAIN BUT RESIDUAL PROBLEMS PERSIST. A FEW ALLERGY COLDS WERE A SET BACK AND THIS ONE JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS HAS CONVINCED ME TO ELIMINATE ALL SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS. FEAST OR FAMINE AND WE ARE USUALLY THE FAMILY OFFERING THE COMMUNITY FEAST AND OPEN HOUSE. IT WILL BE JUST TOO MUCH WITH A NEW BABY SO THIS YEAR IT IS ONLY FAMILY FOCUS TIME.

"BONNIE'S BABIES AND BEARS" WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND A NEW CROP OF PRIMARY KIDS WITH WIDE AND EAGER EYES. FINDING DOLLIES AND BEARS AND RECONDITIONING THEM AND DRESSING THEM UP IS ALWAYS A HAPPY PROJECT. THE RIBBONS AND BOWS AROUND THEIR NECKS AND TRIMS ON THE DOLLS IS WHAT REALLY MAKES THEM SPARKLE.

WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT OUR FAMILY HAS MEANINGFUL WORK THAT WE LOVE AND KEEPS US WITH A ROOF AND FOOD AND SOME OF THE EXTRAS THAT ARE MISSING IN SO MANY OTHERS' LIVES. IT ISN'T JUST AT CHRISTMASTIME THAT WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO HELP EACH OTHER AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO SERVE. iT ANNOYS ME THAT IN THE NEWS THE BIG PUSH IS TO APPEAL TO EVERYONE'S SENSE OF GIVING FOR THE NEEDY AND POOR, WHEN THEY STARVE THE REST OF THE YEAR. TO THINK THAT EVEN IN HAWAII WE HAVE SO MANY HOMELESS, IS A DISCREDIT TO OUR SOCIETY.

IF I FAILED TO MENTION THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF "OLIVER" ON THE 13TH OF THE MONTH FOLLOWING THE 13TH ON THE PREVIOUS MONTH OF TJ'S JOURNEY OVER THE RAINBOW BRIDGE. HE WAS CURLED UP IN A LITTLE BALL ON MY SIDE PORCH AND HE ACTED LIKE HE BELONGED TO US. AND SO HE DID, ALMOST INSTANTLY. AFTER A LOT OF CLEANING UP, FLEA BATHS, HAIRCUTS AND GROOMING, HE WAS ALLOWED INTO THE HOUSE AND HAS TOTALLY TAKEN OVER TO THE EXTENT THT SIMON THINKS HE IS HIS BROTHER. AND THE CAT, CALLI SIDLES UP TO BOTH OF THEM WITH A KISS FIRST AND THEN A VISIT TO THE WINDOWSILL. OLLIE IS OUR BOY NOW.

OH TANNENBAUM EVOKES SWEET AND VAGUE MEMORIES OF GOING TO GRANDMA BECK'S HOUSE ON HILLSIDE AVE. AT CHRISTMAS. THERE WAS A SENSE OF BEING GROUNDED AND BELONGING TO A LARGER FAMILY. I LOVED THE COOKIE JAR IN HER PANTRY OFF THE KITCHEN. I STILL HAVE THE YEARNING TO RECREATE THOSE MEMORIES IN OUR HOME, BUT I OFTEN WONDER IF THE MEN REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THEY NEVER AT LIKE THEY ARE THRILLED WITH ANYTHING. I NEED GIRLS AROUND. WOMEN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. MAYBE A FEW MORE DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW WOULD HELP. OR WE FIND A FAMILY THAT NEEDS A LITTLE CHRISTMAS. THERE MUST BE SOMEONE WE CAN ENTERTAIN ON CHRISTMAS EVE? MAYBE THEY WILL BE SENT OUR WAY. MORE FROM US LATER.