2020 Christmas Letter Activies

 Merry Christmas,

My year started with Cataract Surgery on my right eye on January 8, followed by a bridge on a tooth on January 21. 

I had three abscesses and three root canals in December, causing me to have a bridge replaced.

On March 10, I had a total knee replacement (on my left knee) just before our country was shut down with no elective surgeries. 

I stayed overnight and then went home to do some therapy. I went to Peak Performance for Therapy.

My knee did not respond to Therapy as it should, so the orthopedic doctor manipulated it. 

I spent March, April, and part of May getting Therapy.

During this time, Hubby was staying at home with me and still getting paid. 

He went back to work full-time in September. (He works for a contractor of the government with full pay)

In June, our Granddaughter Hannah gave birth to our fourth great-grandson, "Atlas," just a few days after our great-grandson River celebrated his second birthday.

We couldn't go anywhere, so I spent a lot of time working or attending to my flowers. Most are in pots, which I only had to water and fertilize. This year, we got a lot of rain, which helped with my plants.

We didn't see much of the grandkids or great-grandkids all summer. 

When school started back, we helped with our great-granddaughter, Ava. 

She would attend school for a few days, and we would care for her for a few days. 

Because of the pandemic, our activities were limited. We visited some parks where AVA could play by herself, as well as parks with fish, turtles, and waterfowl. 

We took her to places where she could see Halloween displays, and to a trunk-n-treat. (Lowe's, Home Depot, Party City) 

We took her to the Tinsel Trail in Huntsville and the Enchanted Forest in Decatur.

We have tried to keep her entertained. 

On November 1, Dad fell and broke his hip; his health had been going down for some time. He had lost 30 pounds in the last few months. My sister took him to the doctor, and he had recommended calling Hospice. 

He lived a few days after he fell. We buried him on November 8; he was 93 years old. 

He had a graveside service, and all the family was there. 

We celebrated our great-grandson Hayne's first birthday at the Strickland Hotel on Sunday, December 13. 

Hayne will have Christmas twice this year because he received more presents than most kids get in a year. 

On Tuesday, December 22, Hubby and I took Ava, our five-year-old great-granddaughter, to Franklin, Tennessee. We rode north along the Natchez Trace through Leipers Fork to Franklin, Tennessee. We ate dinner at Mellow Mushroom and saw Santa riding on a Harley through the window, but he was gone by the time we finished our meal.

Ava wanted to see the 100-foot-plus Christmas tree in the town square. We took a few pictures in the square and headed back to the car when, once again, we heard Santa on his Harley. Santa stopped, and I took a couple of pictures with Ava with him. She had to give Santa a real hug, not a hand bump. She was overjoyed about seeing the Real Santa Claus (that's what she said) and was singing Christmas carols for most of the ride home.

We celebrated Christmas on Sunday, December 20, at Jack and Lindsey's new home. I loved seeing the four great-grandkids — Ava, River, Hayne, and Atlas — open their Christmas presents. Their favorite toy was a barking dog for the boys, and Ave got a mewing cat. All the great-grandkids love animals.

On Friday, December 25, my four sisters and I celebrated Christmas with chili, cheese dip, and various sweets. Afterward, we played several rounds of UNO and Dirty Santa until 9:30 P.M. 

On December 29, my four sisters and I met at Los Trojas Cantina to celebrate my sister Teresa's birthday. 

Tomorrow, December 31, I will spend the day with my 24-month-old great-grandson, River. I have not kept him all year for health reasons, so we will see how that goes. We live in a 40-foot RV with little room for running and playing. Two-year-olds need a lot of space. 

My husband and I will attend the gender reveal for our fifth great-grandchild, due sometime next July, on Friday, December 31, from 6:00 to 9:00. 

That about wraps it up for 2020. 

This was a very different year; we lost my dad, and we celebrated the birth of our fourth great-grandson, but could only see him virtually.

We attended Hayne's first birthday party.

Our son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter-in-law, great-grandson, Hubby, and I all had the Coronavirus.  

I had a few health issues, but overall, it has been a good year.

🎄🎄🎄🎄1965~ Christmas Holiday trip to Chicago, Illinois

In the winter of 1965, my Dad, Uncle Harry, Vicki, and I traveled to Chicago, Illinois, in a 1961 Green Plymouth.

I can still see my dad driving through Nashville, Tennessee. 

It was the Christmas holidays, everywhere we looked, we saw twinkling lights, manger scenes, and homes beautifully decorated. 

A warm, glowing feeling came over me as we passed through other smaller towns that were also beautifully decorated for the holidays.

The drive took about ten to twelve hours; there were not many direct highways or interstates from Florence, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois. 

I don't remember the route we took, but I do remember going around a lot of curves and squealing the tires. 

It was late at night, and everyone had fallen asleep except Dad, who was doing the driving. 

We had come to Turkey Run in Indiana, an area known for its many curves. 

Dad came upon the curves too fast, and the tires squealed as we started around the first curve. 

The sound of the squealing tires woke everyone up We stayed awake for the rest of the trip. 

Early the next morning, we crossed the Kingery Highway Cal-Sag Bridge into Cook County, Illinois. I can still remember that awful smell of sewage as we crossed the bridge. 

Kingery Highway Cal-Sag Bridge (Copy from the Internet)

There was a song playing on the radio as we crossed the bridge into Chicago, 

"Five o'clock World" by the Vogues in 1965 was a single that reached #4 on the charts.

It is funny the things you remember from your childhood.

Aunt Betty lived in an apartment on the fourth floor, there were no elevators, we had to walk up and down four flights of stairs.

We had a great time visiting our cousins and their friends and playing cards on the stairs.

I can still hear the laughter of my cousin's friends, Iggy and Freddy, as we played tag.

I had a crush on Iggy. 

Our stay was a short one, and Harry had to get back to work.

My dad is an adventurous person; he never plans anything.

My dad can fix anything; he is a great mechanic, and he never worries about his car breaking down when traveling.

I am adventurous like my dad, usually after a long winter, and when spring is near, I get the urge to travel. 

It doesn't have to be a long trip, but it must be a trip!

I am waiting for my next adventure.

Song by the Vogues

"Five o'clock World" by the Vogues in 1965 was a single that reached #4 on the charts.

Up every mornin' just to keep a job

I must fight my way through the hustling mob

Sounds of the day poundin' in my brain 

While another day goes down the drain (yeah, yeah, yeah)

But it's a five o'clock world when the whistle blows

No one owns a piece of my time

And there's a five o'clock me inside my  clothes

Thinkin' that the world looks fine, yeah

(Scat:oh-de-lay-ee-ee, yeah, yeah)

Hey!

Tradin' my time for the pay I get

Livin' on money that I ain't made yet

I've been goin', tryin' to make my way

While I live for the end of the day (yeah, yeah, yeah)

'Cause it's a five o'clock world when the whistle blows

No one owns a piece of my time

There's a long-haired girl who waits, I know

To ease my troubled mind, yeah

(Scat:oh-de-lay-ee-ee, yeah)

Hey!

In the shelter of her arms, everything's ok

When she talks, the world slips away

And I know the reason I can still go on 

When every other reason is gone, (yeah, yeah, yeah)

In my five o'clock world, she waits for me

Nothing else matters at all

Cuz every time my baby smiles at me 

I know that it's all worthwhile, yeah

(Scat:oh-de-lay-ee-ee, yeah)