I have an old Friend.  Best Friends since the eighth grade.  Who would have guessed, we were so different.  But in our differences we found our “same-ness”.  We had our own language, our own words.  We talked on the phone all night or until one of our Mothers caught us.  We both almost flunked Typing our Senior year because we didn’t do the assignments…we typed notes to each other.  We put thousands of miles on our parent’s cars just driving around.  We were nerds.  I think we probably still are.  We don’t talk on the phone all night anymore.  Our lives changed many years ago.  But, when we see each other…it’s just like old times.  We are old friends. Happy Birthday Old Friend!

We had a very quiet Christmas, I didn’t feel very good, so I was glad for the time to rest.   We also stayed home on New Years Eve and watched all the festivities on television.   God love him…but Dick Clark needs to stay home next year.

Tonight I am trying my new Cuisinart Griddler to make pork chops.  We have a rule in this house that Mom doesn’t get appliances for Christmas presents, but I wanted the griller and a Keurig coffee maker.  All of us got a bad caffeine buzz trying all the different flavors…

We finally got some snow…didn’t even cover the grass, but it is better than nothing.  I love snow.

Belated Happy New Year to all of you.

My blogger friend Dorky Deb   awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award.  In fact she nominated both of my blogs, Mo is blogging  AND Day by Day with the Addison Girl!

As recipient of The Versatile Blogger Award, you must tell 7 things about yourself that your readers might not know.  Then pass the award along to 5 other deserving bloggers.  For me that’s 14 things to list, and 10 fabulous bloggers to pass the award on to.  Whew!

Seven Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. I am not really a redhead
2. I am six years older than my Hubby
3. I am a middle child
4. I get lost when I’m driving all the time
5. I kill any plant I bring into my house
6. I could never do a cart-wheel
7. I could kick your butt in double-dutch jump rope (well, maybe if I was still 10!)

I pass this award on to some of my favorite bloggers, and they are….

• A Different Kind of Happy - Ali is a wonderful blogger who talks about her Husband, their life together and her deep faith.  She is uplifting and can find love and happiness with her faith even in her darkest moments.
• Medical Mohave - This funny Lady’s description of her blog says “I have a constellation of chronic medical conditions and a knack for finding difficult doctors. Between the two, there’s more drama than Grey’s Anatomy.”   She takes you through her daily life as a Mom of her “Toddler” and as a woman who won’t take NO as an answer.
• Redefining Good - Elisabeth brings you into her life with her struggles working full-time with her health woes.  She seems to always come up with great ideas on how to make her life easier, but this one doesn’t slow down often…and sometimes pays for it!  I always am learning things from her great blog.
•  The Queen of Optimism - writes about her continued search for a doctor that will listen to her, and her search for a definite diagnosis.  She never holds back, and says it like it is.
• Hibernationnow - Laurie writes this wonderful blog and talks about her life and family beautifully.  After reading her blog, you will feel as if you know her….she becomes like a good neighbor that you can chat with anytime.  Her style of writing can get you laughing or crying…she is very talented.

If any of the above mentioned bloggers would like to participate, just pick five deserving blogs, tell us seven things about yourself and sit back and relish in your spotlight! 

Thanks again Dorky Deb!  I love your blog too!

Our Family has a secret.  It’s a pretty big secret.  But I think it is time to tell.

You see, our Mother is Mrs. Santa Claus.  The real deal. 

In the late 1960′s my Mom, dressed as Mrs. S.C, would go to the homes of her friends, the Ladies in her Womens’ Club, and hand out parent provided gifts.  It was very exciting for me because I was allowed to go a few times.  My SIS would drive and I would sit in the back seat in charge of the gifts.  As time went on  I was able to drive her around town, and eventually we took my kids for the excitement also.

At first , she had a simple red cape and a Santa hat, but as years went by her costume got fancier and fancier.  The current suit is  a red corduroy cape trimmed with fluffy white fleece.  Her floor length skirt was trimmed with fleece all around the bottom, with her little black boots sticking out.  White gloves and a perfect Santa hat on her head rounded out the look. 

She loved children.  She had five of her own, and was a school librarian at the local School District.   She appeared at village functions, my kid’s preschool, and random houses of the children who saw her a child.  They had their own children and they wanted their kids to see Mrs. Santa Claus.

My Mother changed into another person when she put on the costume.  Her cheeks got rosy, she walked differently and she seemed to stand taller than her five feet.  Her smile was huge, her eyes twinkled and when she put on her hat….she was the real Mrs. Santa Claus. Her jingle bells announced her arrival to all that were waiting for her.  She just loved doing it.

When I first became sick in 2001, I missed a lot of things including the fun of Christmas, but I dragged myself downstairs one particular Christmas Day  because of my family’s pleas. Everybody opened all their gifts and oohed and ahhed.  Finally, I was given a big box and told to open it.  I tore off the paper and pulled all the tissue paper out of the box.  Inside was something I had been asking for years.

A professional portrait of Mrs. Santa Claus

We lost our Mrs. Santa in October 2010.  While clearing out her condo, we found the Mrs. Santa suit.  My SIS and I just sat there holding it.  We put it back in the plastic garment bag and it is still there.   

This suit will become a family heirloom.

Smile Mrs Santa, I will be listening for your bells on Christmas Day.

I’m sitting here drinking my coffee and I can hear Santa Claus in the distance getting nearer and nearer.  Today is the annual “Santa on the Fire truck Day” in town.  Oh, I can remember how Bill and Dan would wait for the small parade to get to our street, and as they got closer the sirens would get louder and louder.  Their excitement was contagious and I stood in the window with them waiting and waiting……until there he was!  On top of the fire truck with a few elves that were handing out candy canes to those who were lucky to get outside fast enough.  So, now I sit here on the couch by myself waiting for Santa to get to our street.  But my excitement and anticipation is not about seeing Santa on top of the fire truck.  Nope!  Those little boys are not standing near the street waiting for their candy canes anymore.  But, one of those little boys is driving the big red fire truck taking Santa around town.  Nothing is cooler than seeing your little boy grow up and drive that big red firetruck…..how awesome!

Groovy.

White Go-Go Boots

The last book I read was Room, by Emma Donoghue.  Room was also difficult to read but for a totally different reason.  The book is narrated by five-year old Jack, who is held captive with his “Ma” by Old Nick who kidnapped Ma when she was 17.   Jack and Ma live in a shed in the kidnappers backyard.  Jack was born and is being raised by his Ma in this small shed they simply call “room”.  Jack’s narration, done in his own strange baby talk added just the right amount of creepiness.  The book was excellent, but gave me nightmares.  It ended abruptly leaving me wonder what happened to Jack and his Ma.  

Both of these books…too depressing for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERPdEC1en1A

This is an open blog, it can be found through search engines.  I cannot block anyone,  I can only delete/spam comments. 

None of my blogs are about any specific group or individual.  I occasionally write about my Mom, my kids or my husband or friends.   I will never, nor have I written about someone else’s blog or life without identifying them.

Just wanted to clear that up. 

mo