Dear Reader:

It has occurred to me this year that Christmas would not be the same if we removed, not only family, from the core of the Christmas season, but also ” framily”… chosen friends who complete our lives each day of the year… friends we can talk to that we can’t, necessarily, with just family.

Family and ” framily” are our Christmas decorations…. they provide what Archibald Rutledge called ” life’s extras.” They might not fall under food, clothing, and shelter basic necessities… but have you ever lost a ” framily” member to a move or other departure? Suddenly your whole world seems like the glitter and lights suddenly got taken or turned off?

When each of my adult children showed up sending, putting up, and helping trim my Christmas tree last Saturday, along with my grandchildren … I knew that, in reality, this was all I needed for Christmas… their presence.

And since then… I have looked at all the decorations on the tree given me by framily over the years … each special with a story behind it. Danish plaid hearts from my Danish friends, a pickle from a German ancestral friend, homemade drawn snowflakes from crafty friends, cardinals from post readers symbolizing Sammy, Tigers from my Clemson buddies…the list could go on and on….

So until tomorrow… Pause and look around you… aren’t the best decorations dressed in family and friendship? And no matter the circumstances over time… it is their love, wrapped securely in memory bubbles that truly provide ” Christmas ” to us everyday?

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

December 7 is my neighbor Vickie’s birthday -she was actually born on the day Pearl Harbor was attacked! I told her she sure knew how to pick a day and time that everyone can remember her birthday! 😂