Dear Reader:

I can honestly say I have never wanted riches beyond my wildest imagination….I have just wanted enough money to pay my monthly bills with enough left over to save for a rainy day and buy items, occasionally, I know will put a smile on loved ones’ faces.

In other words…just enough to live on, a little security, a little “funny money” and I am content. I remember reading the horrific stories about what happens to lottery winners with millions in their pockets… It is not a good story and almost never has a good ending …Either the “winner” ends up in poverty again or is out-cast from family/friends for not giving their relatives supposedly enough of his/her winnings….broken families left in disarray.

I have always loved this “internet favorite” story (below) that has circulated for years now and re-surfaces every so often. Many of you will remember it too….so I will just give a quick summary but pay more attention to the “list” in the story.

A gentleman waiting on a plane overhears a very tearful good-bye between an older woman, apparently a mother, and her grown daughter at an airport. He is quite moved by the conversation between them…later the mother walks over to him and asks if he has ever told someone he loved good-bye knowing it is a final farewell? He shakes his head sadly and waits for the woman to continue.

He discovers she is dying and her daughter lives far away so the next time her daughter will see her will be at her funeral. The gentleman asks what she meant by the phrase she kept reminding her daughter to remember…something about just ‘giving enough.’

The older lady explains that this is a ritual that has been passed down in her family for a long time…she then precedes to tell it to him from memory.

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Good-bye ..”

For many, this Christmas of 2020, will be a tough one…people have lost their jobs, come down with the coronavirus, subsequently lost their homes and/or rental apartments. For these people…”enough” would be simply food on the table and a roof over their heads and their family’s  for the holidays.

For many of us who give to those in need through  church drives, community drives, or national charity drives, it is obvious the number of needy has grown tremendously this year. Some times it feels almost overwhelming trying to decide how to disperse the money allotted we have to give.

But then we have to stop and think that the distribution of food and materials to the needy always starts with one person. If one person helps out one other person and another person helps someone out…this seemingly impossible mission is possible. It all starts with just one.

So until tomorrow…This Christmas…let us be aware of those around us in store  lines or parking lots who could use our help…a gift card for a grocery store or restaurant, gas station, or department store…remember…“I’ve seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives…Be one for someone else!”

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Here’s another COVID memorable Santa Claus picture….taken at the SC Aquarium Sunday with masks on everyone-Jake and Eva Cate…including Santa with eye glasses hanging over his mask. 🙂

The “reds” in the maples and pear trees take one’s breath away this Christmas…it is like nature is decorating for Christmas too! I took three photos of my Bradford Pear.

My front yard!

It arrived! Joan’s original artwork Christmas card came yesterday…the one I wait expectantly for each holiday! I was elated…an annual tradition I look forward to each year! (Though I must admit the painting did make me reflective of all our pet losses this year- the Turners got hit hard…Joan and W.T. lost two dogs and of course John, Mandy and family…their beloved Tigger.)

For Joan and W.T. …there’s just Mickey left from Lucy’s family now. So Joan decided to add three lights above Mickey in the decorations to represent the three beloved dogs that passed….Lola, Billy, and Tigger.

Jo and Colby dropped a Christmas present off for me yesterday…I was able to talk to them from the porch to their car…little Colby has grown up since she first came with grandmother Jo to see me about eight years ago. (See photo) Now she is a freshman at Clemson and loving it. Time does fly.

I received a garden apron from them with the wise message for all gardeners…”To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Look who is modeling it for me! 🙂

*Jo and Colby also left two Christmas books filled with stories…which you, undoubtedly, will soon hear. 🙂 Thank you “Dynamic Duo”!

Yesterday I opened the porch door to another package on the porch…I assumed initially it was another gift I had ordered from Amazon…but to my surprise and delight…it was a framed photo from my cousin Marcia with me and Susan in it from their last visit a couple of years ago…We were “The Three Musketeers” growing up in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

*Marcia…I can’t think you enough for the memories…camps and overnight sleep-overs, Saturday night scary movies, etc…this photo means so much to me.

Isn’t this what Christmas is all about…memories?