Happy New Year

The holidays have been nice, but now it is time to get back to reality. It was great having Alan and Jennifer home, but with all the extra "stuff" that accompanies Alan (no offense Son) it was starting to get on my nerves. I had to take all the Christmas stuff down shortly after Christmas Day because I was starting to have panic attacks. Have to get back to that routine you know!!!

One thing I enjoy most about the holidays is hearing from friends you don't hear from often. I love getting Christmas cards and I like to send them as well. What worries me is when I don't hear from some one that has been sending cards and letters for years and then I don't hear from them. I'm going to make an effort to contact them and hope that they are well. When I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's I realized how much my family and friends meant to me. I've said it here before that it is a shame that something has to strike you before you realize what is important in life -- but you hear many people say that. So, it has been important to me to remain friends and reconnect with friends I have let slip by the wayside. This past fall, a friend of mine popped back in my life that I was so grateful for. We had been friends for years professionally and when we both switched jobs we kind of lost track of each other. Then I ran into her in a local deli and I was so excited to see her and catch up on her life. Unfortunately, I learned that her husband too was suffering from dementia. She was glad to run into me as well and we shared notes and reconnected our friendship. That has meant so much to me.

If you are looking for a new year's resolution -- don't look far. Look to re-establish or to at least strengthen your friendships. You'll be glad you did.

Christmas

Well -- it is finally cold here in Athens. The high today is suppose to be in the upper 30's. But by Christmas Day they are looking at temps in the mid 60's. At least it will feel like Christmas for a couple of days! I know I haven't been good at blogging over the last week or so. Have been busy and trying to prepare for this week. We have been getting together with friends over the last several weeks and will again until after Christmas. Fourteen people are coming to our house for dinner on Christmas. Everyone is bringing something so it won't be too much work for me. I'm sure that by this time next week I'll be ready to have the tree down and have things back to "normal". I function so much better when things are near "normal".

Wishing all of you a happy, merry holiday!

Getting Ready for the Holidays

Well I have so much to do and don't want to do any of it. I just can't get motivated. We have two Christmas parties this weekend -- and I have been complaining that we haven't done anything "Christmassy" but I'm not excited about going to the parties. That's contradictory isn't it? I suppose when the time rolls around I'll feel like it. It doesn't feel much like Christmas to me yet. I've done the shopping, wrapping and sent all my presents off to friends and family across the globe, but I still can't get into it. I think it is just all overwhelming to me at times and I don't think I can handle it all. Perhaps if the weather turns cold and feels like "Christmas" that will help.