December 24th 2013

Well here it is another Christmas is here upon us ..
Time is an elusive thing.. passes way too slow when waiting for a holiday or a bit of celebration
 but zips on by when it is time to pay a bill or get ready to go do something you might not really want to do!
When you belong to that marvelous club of the" RETIRED FOLK"..
 time seems to expand and have really odd meanings at very odd times..
We do not have dinner at exactly the time we normally did ..
 do not go to bed at the times we used to
and heaven forbid we do not even get up in the morning as we used to!!!
Sometimes we have breakfast for dinner
 and sometimes we have dessert for breakfast.

We wander and while it may seem aimless to some to us it does have a mission..
We no longer rush to get that first light image with our heave cumbersome cameras..
 and we no longer slip and slide into unknown canyons in the back of beyond.
. they all remain fabulous memories
but they are no longer things we do..
 for a variety of reasons.. all very important to us.

What we do though is reflect a lot on how things were..
 and how they used to be..
when our children were small and within our reach..
we remember parents long since departed.
 and we recall friends no longer with us..
It then becomes truly impressionable what we have learned about our lives
 and what is truly important in the grand scheme of things.

Friends that have made an impact on our lives whether by design or by purpose..
 the ones that came by for a moment
 and the ones that came by for a few years
 and the ones that stayed..
and best of all the friends we make along the retirement road..
 a whole bunch of other older folks with time and energy..
 good health and the wherewithal to go where they want
 how they want
 when they want.
I had someone ask me if I thought this was a selfish way to live..
 and after reflecting I am admitting it just might be..

So here on Christmas Eve we are sitting in a lovely rolling dog house we call the Big Horn RV..
we are currently in the southern climes of Yuma AZ
 and enjoying sunshine, blue skies and it is nice.
 Especially when we see the temperatures back home .
I reflect on what is important to me..
 as I have learned it is rude to speak for others,
 as they may in fact not have the same reflections.

My dear sweet family..
 those of you that stay in touch,
 those that maybe drop a line here and there,
 and those that do not ..
 I love you .
.each of you
 for who you are and not what have  or can do..
 but for who you have become and how you live your lives.

To my friends..
 no matter where you are or how we stay in touch through time and miles..
I love you more then you know
For the things you bring to our lives,
 for the times you were there when you were needed more then you know
 and for the laughter we have shared over the years..
THANK YOU for sharing your life with me and mine.

To the very special people in my life..
 and I do tend to gather a series of lovely humans
Rich.. Rose, Julie, Gordon and Laura; you are more then friends you are family..
you are part of my story
you are part of my heart
and you will always be with me where ever I go.

Now to my husband of almost 15 years..
 our lives have changed since 1999 and we have changed..
what has not changed is that you are still my best friend..
 you still are the only man I wish to really grow old with
and you have my heart.
Thank you for the two little pups you agreed to become staff for one year ago..
 they have given me so much joy, you cannot begin to imagine.
I love you so much and this essentially is my Christmas card to you this year.

Merry Christmas to each of you no matter where you are and no matter what you are doing.
 I am thinking of you with love and joy..
Peace