Dear Reader:

Metamorphosis is defined as a change in the form or nature of a thing or person… into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.

In this case… between the two photos…it is a special app you can apply to a photo to get all kinds of different looks…it is actually lots of fun.

This Christmas, particularly, I have noticed a trend taking place among my friends as we laugh at ourselves over preparations for the holidays. If there was ever a time to use the excuse that we aren’t going to decorate or go “overboard” on decorations… it would be this year.

And anyone would have your back for saying it….because for many people Christmas will be spent alone, or if not alone, with very few members outside the regular family this holiday. So logically there is a tendency….especially if young children aren’t involved any more ….to just stick up a wreath and maybe put out a poinsettia for the room…a table top tree…and call it a day.

Instead the reverse appears to be happening…maybe it is a strange psychological reaction to all the months of isolation, but it is like we can’t get enough lights streaming inside and out… or enough ornaments on our bigger than normal Christmas tree.

For me…I wake up each day excited about what else I can add to the decor…taking old decorations and updating them or changing the scenery around them. I get excited thinking of the perfect gift for someone or how I can revive some memories by replacing friendship ornaments from past to present.

I thought it was just me being my crazy self. Because, outside of a few friends stopping by…for just a few moments…not hours… to wish each other a Merry Christmas or exchange gifts…more times than not I get back home from picking up prescriptions and there is a Christmas present left at the door.

So many people will never see the decorations I have done and worked so hard on…up close and personal…but instead of that being a deterrent…it has become a catalyst to give myself the the very best Christmas ever….I deserve it.  You deserve it! We all do!

I want to enjoy myself each evening reading my favorite Christmas stories…eating yummy Christmas cookies…or watching old Christmas movies…turning out the lights except for all the new decorative ones on the tree, mantle, decoration lights reflecting off mirrors…I want to create a cozy safe secure little magical space for myself while enjoying telephone talks, texts, and emails from family and friends.

I am creating my own Christmas this year…and I am loving it.

My friend Libby told me the same thing, along with some of my neighbors…It is all about getting our minds off terrifying leaps in the spread of the coronavirus…along with  the turbulent on-going political drama…and re-focusing on (as Julie Andrews would sing) my “Favorite Things”..!” (She’s right…”then I don’t feel so bad!”)

Look how pretty Libby has decorated and just having fun exchanging gifts with Ben! Merry Christmas!

Even nature seems to be going through some kind of metamorphosis too…one expects to see the camellias going crazy this time of year…but my morning glories…after several nights of below freezing temperatures….unbelievable!

My Christmas card this year has five stockings hanging…I thought to myself  “Perfect”…because it holds the five most precious presents in the world to me…my ‘Fantastic Five’ grandchildren.

Our Ya Ya friend Jackson and her son Matthew made it back home to New Jersey yesterday where she will be living for a few months while she continues healing after surgery. So glad they made it in a day and she and Matthew can finally get some much needed rest! Take care and have fun Jackson….we can hardly wait to hear about your new adventures!