no work this week.
how lucky am i?! how grateful am i?! ....very.
cats are snoozing and in good shape, as is the apartment. my trusty petsitters are awesome.
~~~
Dad and i are the only ones out of the family who ate and actually liked fruitcake. now it's just me. my sis gave me the cutest little cake...
Christmas, as usual, was total chaos. too many people stuffed in a kitchen with too much food, not enough room to sit down, kids running in circles, dogs barking, ripped wrapping paper everywhere, paper plates, plastic cups, plastic eating utensils and a fridge that'll offer an interesting problem on how to fit all the perishables inside of it. mom and i will get that honor. ;-)
i love it.
we all do.
we laugh, joke, tease, and sometimes get into heated arguments only to end up laughing and joking and teasing again. :-)
the best parts of my visit home is hanging with Mom at the kitchen table in the morning and talking while having coffee, bread and fruit. there is nothing better than that.
went to mass on Christmas morning with her. felt a little sad thinking about Dad. it's nice though, that so many in the parish come over to greet her.
~~~
i'll head back for New Year's. it was supposed to be a surprise but i just couldn't take keeping this secret from her. everyone is heading to my brother's house. then Mom and i will head back to the house and sit at the kitchen and tell stories, talk about things, and remember... always over cups of coffee and bread, or cookies or cake...
we're smart enough to know we're rich folk without all of the material stuff. there's nothing more valuable than family and friends.
~~~
2005, we'll put out a cup of coffee for you. be kind and wise. take care of all of us here on this little planet.
2004, thank you for bringing lessons to help me find my way.
~~~
ps. i got a hilarious cat calendar for Christmas.
the cover reads: My Cat's Not Fat, He's Just Big-Boned.
the black cat on the cover has 2 bowls of food on either side of him and he's holding a cookie and stating, "I'm just holding this cookie for a friend"...
hehehe. i also got long-johns with cats drawn all over them. hilarious! i love them. :-)