Yeah Baby, 2021!!! It's Gonna Be Awesome..... right?... Right?!?!?!?!

 

Hi!

Well, it finally happened. 2020 ran out of steam and is on its way out the door.

2021 is on the doorstep, ringing the bell. A guest we can't refuse.

2021 looks friendly enough, bringing vaccines, sane leadership for our American friends, a renewed and deeply necessary call for systemic change, and a new definition of essential. But, after all that was 2020, we have to just hope that 2021 isn't that good looking guy in the horror movie who pretends his car broke down in the rain and is asking to come in to use your phone because he lost his cell and is really just coming in to release a million murder hornets in your living room.

No, 2021 can't be that guy, right? Right?!

No, 2021 is, instead, going to be the blue-haired, Disney-inspired, sweet, kind, yet boring middle-aged lady who is on the doorstep, asking for help. And, when she is invited in, she turns out to be a great listener, offers to help you get caught up on each and every household chore, then makes you a fantastic meal from scratch and bakes your favourite cookies for dessert, and then slips you some money 'just in case'. 

Let's welcome this new year with open hearts, open minds, and optimism. 

Let's take the lessons we've learned from 2020 and not waste them.

Let's remember what proved its incredible importance when the rest of the world fell away.

Let's remember how important human connection is and not take it for granted.

Let's remember who became essential, and treat them accordingly.

Let's remember that looking out for each other is not political, it's human.

Let's remember that nothing is guaranteed.

Let's remember that when people show you who they are, believe them.

Let's do this. A new year. A new decade. A new perspective.

Now we know better, it's time to do better.

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May the new year bring you every kind of joy, and an utter embarrassment of ALL the riches,            May it bring all kinds of health, happiness, and fun, we all deserve a year of bliss, without glitches.

May we all find a way to release the pain of the past, embrace the future, and make it better than ever.    May we be sure to sincerely celebrate, all the things, without hesitation, without any guilt whatsoever.

May we, when we finally, safely can, embrace each other, and never let go.                                              May we never again take for granted a simple hug, a visit, a meal, or going to a show.

May we let the lessons of the last year sink in and take root.                                                                      May we make sure the lessons bloom, blossom grow, and bear fruit.

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Looking for a good book to curl up with? Check it out...

https://www.amazon.ca/Once-Broken-Margy-Reid-ebook/dp/B071HTFTX6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IH558NP9AABX&dchild=1&keywords=once+broken&qid=1609435585&sprefix=once+broken%2Caps%2C282&sr=8-1

2020... The Worst Houseguest Ever!

 Hi!

Well folks, 2020 is very close to being in the rearview mirror. 

Good riddance!

Let's give it the send-off it deserves, shall we? 

To me, 2020 has been the absolute worst houseguest ever.

It came in polite enough, pretty quiet, friendly, well-behaved. Then it got comfortable. Too comfortable.

It got drunk and peed in every closet, threw up in every corner of every room, brought bed bugs, played frisbee with the heirloom china, exploded marshmallows in the microwave, and ruined every family gathering, It burned holes in the couch, and the carpet, insulted the neighbours, hit on your Mom, and jammed up your plumbing. It spit in every one of your cups of coffee, cooked cabbage, rotten fish, and bacon on high heat without lids, and left you to clean up the mess. 

It traumatized your kids, tried to kill Grandma, and refused to take off their shit-covered boots while running laps throughout the entire house. It left dirty towels, and skid-marked underwear all over the bathroom floor with a generous sprinkling of mystery hairs all over the shower after using your favourite loofah. It ate you out of house and home, leaving behind half-eaten yogurts, mere crumbs, and a few drops in milk jugs and juice containers.

 It thought it was funny to prank you by waking you in the middle of the night wearing a Pennywise mask and wielding a butcher knife It called your boss, pretended to be you, called them a bunch of horrible names, and quit. 

Yeah 2020, it's time for you to go. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.  Or do. Yeah, do.

So let's raise a glass or two or ten and celebrate the fact that it's over. It was a crazy, stressful year full of heartache and loss. Onward and Upward! 

Sorry to write and run, but I have a houseguest to usher out the door, throw off the porch, and then, my friends, I'm changing the friggin' locks!

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May every one of us find a way through all of the pain 2020 has forced upon us.                                  May we honour the lives of those taken by this nightmare by living the lives they would want for us.

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Until next year...

  

Find Your Snowmen...

 

Hi!

This Holiday season is going to be one for the history books. This Holiday season is unlike any we have ever experienced. It's going to be tough, it's going to be stressful, things are going to be downright weird. 

I know, I'm kinda beating a dead horse here, but we are where we are, and it is what it is.

Holiday cheer is a little harder to muster this year. Beyond the pandemic, there are those struggling with illnesses and hardships that have nothing to do with it. There are those struggling with money problems, joblessness, homelessness, loneliness... life.

So, those of us who can, should.

It doesn't have to be a lot. I know, dead horse, but even the smallest of gestures can help flip someone's Holiday right side up. Just like that.

A smile

A donation to a food bank.

A tray of goodies delivered to a care home or a neighbour.

A donation of winter coats to a homeless shelter.

You get it.

Those of us who can, should.

Okay, off the soapbox. Time for the happy.

So, snowmen.

This year, they made their migration from the basement a bit early, around the middle of November. The 125+ of them are sprinkled all over the house. There are big ones, small ones, ones that live within snow globes and music boxes, ones that dance borderline inappropriately. ones that hang out all soft, squishy, and cuddly on the couch.

We needed them. I say we because, even though my hubby may not be the first to admit it, but they bring joy, they make us smile. And, hey, we need joy, now more than ever. 

So, this year among all of the craziness, make your joy. Dive into it, enjoy it, wrap yourself in it. It's okay to play games, to giggle, to have fun. It's not only allowed, it's necessary. Find your snowmen.

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Sorry to write and run, but I need to finish up my treat trays, and get them ready for delivery!

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May you savor every giggle, embrace every joyful moment, every roll of the game board dice.                May you allow yourself to be swallowed by the happy, it's okay, feel it, don't put your happy on ice.

May you find a way to create some fun, even if it's not on the tip of your tongue.                                      May you create a way to connect with those you hold most dear, those special someones.

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Until next time.... Find your snowmen and Enjoy!!!

In The Meantime...

The top shot is compliments of my Honey, a view from the road on his way to the shop. The other shot is what happens when you tell Grandma you're bored.

Our tiny bubble still allows us to safely, at least for now, spend actual time with these three littles, and for this, we are very grateful. 

Well, we have officially invoked our Plan B for Christmas because having everyone under one roof, at this point, isn't an option. So a drive-by Christmas it will be. 

Although we are bummed about it, we are also extremely thankful. It is not lost on us that there will be countless families throughout the world dealing with the loss of loved ones because of this pandemic. There will be countless families around the world worrying about putting food on the table, and making rent because of this. There are people all over the world struggling with anxiety and depression and loneliness because of this thing. 

In our neck of the woods, the vaccine will begin doing its job next week. Healthcare workers and the elderly will have access first, this is as it should be, but that means, soon it'll be on the way for the rest of us. So, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter, and, contrary to everything 2020 it doesn't appear to be a train. 

Here's hoping the vaccine spreads as quickly through the world's population as the need for it did. 

Let's hope that the proprietary nature of politics, the "mine, mine, mine" attitudes are set aside, and what's good for the masses trumps the selfishness. Let's hope the 'us before them' thing, is kept at bay. 

Let's hope humanity takes the lead as it should.

In the meantime, let's do everything we can to keep as many people we can from getting this virus as possible. Let's save as many people as we can from the pain that goes with it. Let's keep our bubbles tiny while we wait for the light to shine on us all. 

In the meantime, as we wait, let's do our best to help those who need it most. Whether we make donations to food banks, calls to those who need to hear our voices or goofy videos that make people smile. Let's do our best.

We got this, we just need to lift each other over this, the last of the hardest parts. 

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May we get to the end of the tunnel without meeting a train. 

May we save as many as we can from experiencing any more pain.

May we find a way to put cheer into this weird and stressful time.

May we find a way to feel the cheer, really let it in, not to, would be a crime.

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Until next time...

https://www.amazon.ca/Once-Broken-Margy-Reid-ebook/dp/B071HTFTX6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29UFBXLM0MIB3&dchild=1&keywords=once+broken&qid=1607721695&sprefix=once+broken%2Caps%2C354&sr=8-1

 

Tiny Bubbles...

 

Hi!

For now, and for at least the next few months, as we wait for science to write the final act of this nightmare, we need to keep our bubbles small, better yet, tiny.

With this holiday season in full swing, it's tough. But, tiny bubbles can be fun too. 

Personally, we've been lucky enough to have our tiny bubble include the daughter that lives closest and her babies. Through this pandemic, a light has been shone on the little things, and we are doing everything we can to fully enjoy those little things.

Introducing our three youngest grandbabies to TWISTER was awesome. Reading their letters to Santa is awesome. Baking the treats that will put smiles on their faces, and the faces of a few others I hold closest to my heart is awesome. Watching predictably predictable, sappy Christmas movies with them is awesome. 

Instead of holiday office parties, family get-togethers, and other things that offer charcuterie boards and potent, plentiful cocktails, instead of making appearances at things for which we put on bras and pants to attend, we will... well, go pretty much nowhere. 

Instead, we will have to hunker down, use tech to see each other, do driveway greetings, keep in touch with those who matter most, spread virtual cheer, 

Look on the bright side.... right, 2020. Sorry, forgot where I was there for a second. 

For those who have been working from home for months, juggling zoom calls, homeschooling, and trying to keep the image of your dog licking himself out of the camera shot, the thought of awkward small talk with the guy from accounting who always manages to smell like tuna probably sounds utterly fabulous right about now. 

Those who have lost their jobs completely or have had to close the doors of their small business because of this thing would likely give their right arm for the pain in the ass it is to attend, organize, or host some kind of, any kind of holiday shindig, drunk dancing, and bad karaoke included. 

For those struggling to make rent, cover bills, and put food on the table, the free meal, in and of itself would be a relief.

So, let's all just acknowledge that the last of 2020 is going to go out much like it came in, other than the murder hornets, I don't think the murder hornets became an actual thing. 

There is no way around it. This holiday season is going to be strange, strained, stressful, and sad. 

But, even with everything 2020 has stripped from us we can hang on to our tiny bubbles and let them carry us to the end of this thing. We are but a few weeks from having 2020 in the rearview, if you are finding it hard to muster up some holiday spirit this year, celebrate that.

And there is a bright side. No, really.

2020 has given humanity the gift of a forced understanding of what is wrong with how our world is run. It has shone a light on how messed up our priorities are as a society. It has proven that it takes a lot more than money to make the world go around. It has given us the gift of reminding us just how important tactile, real, in-person, human connection truly is. 

2020 has lifted the rocks and exposed racists from their hiding places, making them bold, stripping away their secret identities. 2020 has made them proud of their ugliness. Turned dog whistles into fog horns. This really is part of the bright side, for only when you know where the roaches live can you rid yourself of them. Once exposed, it becomes a lot easier to flick them out of your life. 

2020 has shown us who in our lives are susceptible to believing conspiracy theories and misinformation in general. It has shown us how deep into the rabbit hole they are willing to slide, even as it endangers others. 

2020 has redefined the word 'hero.' 

2020 isn't over yet. We still have time to be the bright side.

Food banks all over the world are being stretched to the limits. Different charities are working tirelessly to put together holiday baskets for those hit the hardest. Toy drives are looking for donations. Shelters can always use those winter coats and boots that nobody in your household wears anymore.

We still have time to be the bright side, even if it's from the confines of our tiny bubbles...

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Until next time...

May we all find a way to be the bright side, and not let the darkness overshadow our joy.

May we find a way through the season, but not just through, a way to embrace and enjoy.

May we find what we can share, and do just that, little things can light up a lot of faces.

May we share much more than what we can buy, kindness is free, and can be spent in countless places.

May we tap into our generosity, spreading it far and wide, giving makes smaller our troubles.

May we do our level best to be the bright side, even if it's from the comfort of our tiny bubbles. 

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