Joyous Christmas To You

Greetings from the green of West Michigan!
This morning there were a few snowflakes that dusted the grass, but that's about it as far as a white Christmas goes.  Not that I was dreaming all that intensely of one.  But, snow does help one's mood somewhat.  At least for me.
This has been the first time since I was a child that the Christmas season has not been a blur of busy for me.  This year, all that has been required of me are three family parties this month, a church Christmas program for two of the grandsons, and a Winter concert for one granddaughter.  This is plenty of activity for me.  I host the parties, but everyone contributes, so it is not too tasking. 
The stressful part of the month has at least resulted in something enjoyable!  THGGM and I finally were able to replace a nasty looking (although incredibly endurable!) kitchen floor.  Also, our breeze-way turned wind tunnel has been refitted with new windows and doors.  This has added a great degree of warmth to it, which is a blessing as we must traverse that space to go from the upstairs to the downstairs.  What a difference!  On the other end of that, I sort of miss our winter refrigeration system which came in handy at Christmas time! 
Having turned 60 this year, watching the last of the grandchildren go off to school all day, and realizing I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up has caused me to do much reflecting.  As a child I wanted to be a wife and mother, so I did that.  Then the children grew up.  So, being a grandmother seemed like a viable next step, and that was THE best, but then we all grew older, as one does, and now I'm thinking that what I want to do next is to be an old lady who stays home and reads all the books she longed to read when there was no time for that.  Of course, none of those things that I've done, or still hope to do bring in any income, so I must make decisions that will leave me with enough where-with-all to sit and read.  Mostly, I've just thought a lot about magically becoming independently wealthy which seems to suit me best.  I'll let you know if that ever happens. 
ANYWAY.., this year I also made a visit to the eye doctor.  I have to do that every year to keep an eye on (ooo! a pun!) a few issues.  At this visit I also added to the conversation that I just cannot SEE well anymore.  Everything has become rather dull and a blur (which of course, one may note, pretty much sums up my life).  A few tests were run and in a few weeks I will be having cataract surgery on both eyes.  First the left (from which all i can see is blur) then the right (which seems to be the eye that keeps me from bumping into absolutely everything).  As one can imagine, this has caused all that

I do to be a bit more difficult.  This year I've done much less decorating than usual, as it just isn't as fun when you can't really see what you are doing.  Although in other ways, when we are out at night ALL the lights EVERYWHERE look like twinkling Christmas lights to me, so that's a plus (just say yes, i'm reaching hard for the silver lining here).  Thankfully, I know MANY people who have had this surgery, and they assure me it isn't THAT bad and that I will see so much better - even better than I have since third grade, so I am resting in that.  I've also noticed that those who have needed both eyes done DO always go back and have that second surgery, which brings me a sort of comfort I wouldn't otherwise feel.  I find myself calling out like Bartimaeus, "I want to see Lord!" so I'll be happy to have this done.
Last month I purchased a new laptop, as my old and faithful one had several cracks appear in it which caused it to do wonky things like, for instance, not close.  The one I'm working on now keeps crashing due to a lack of storage space.  Hmm.  I only have about a months worth of pictures on it, and that is all.  So, because of this I am unable to download any pictures from my camera to this computer at this time.  Someday, when I can see better, I will attempt to figure out just what is causing this.
This week we had our very old piano looked at to see if it could be fixed.  It can't.  This will bother me more when I am able to see well enough to read music, but I think we will just keep it in its deplorable internal condition - it isn't like I have perfect pitch anyway, or play for any other reason than that I can.  But, we may be in the market for a nice digital piano in the not so distant future.  Maybe.  After all, I do prefer old and pre-damaged goods. 
Well, I must hurry off and finish my preparations for tomorrow!
And may God bless us, everyone!