Remember when it was "easy" to run errands?  All we had to do was walk a few blocks...or a short drive in the car.....  Pretty "easy" to get to the car, get to the store, park the car and get back home....  Remember the cartoons of the child in a snowsuit unable to move (usually saying they had to go to the bathroom)? 

Where I live (MN) it has decided to remind us of the snowsuit!  The temp is in the minus numbers with a wind chill even lower.  Yes, we wear layers.  Yes, we have clothes designed for the cold.  And...YES(!) we look like kids in snowsuits a lot of the time.  So it takes almost as long to get ready to run the errands as it does to actually run the errands.  I will also admit my nickname, for years, has been "Nanuck of the north."

​You do have to laugh or you will start screaming!!

How are you at finding things?  Do you have things, like most of us do, that you put some place "safe"?  It must be a VERY safe place because I still can't find several things!  Then there are the things I "just had" but can't find.  It can be very frustrating especially when one of the sisters comes into the room and finds it immediately.

Or.... you think of something, usually in the middle of something else, and wonder where it is.  It has gotten a little chilly where I live (MN) and I thought of my warm boots.  I knew they had moved with me but I hadn't used them last year.  So...... where were they?  The interesting part of moving from a 4 bedroom house to one bedroom makes for some very stuffed closets.

The good news is the boots were actually where I thought they would be!  Sometimes memory works!!  Like I've said.....you have to laugh or you will start screaming!

How are you at waiting?  It probably depends on what you are waiting for and how long you have to wait - right?  There are some things we might have to wait "a long time" for - like knowing a new baby is arriving but not for several months.  To an adult that is pretty fast but to a child that is 'forever.'  Then there is waiting for the food to arrive when you are hungry.......  Or hurry to get to the appointment only to have to wait.

Or.....like last week.... waiting while a family member is in surgery.  What do you do?  I tend to be knitting and people watching - same as when I'm at the airport.  It was an interesting morning because there were several others also waiting.  Some were scrolling on their phones, children were playing with technology (not sure what you call it) and some were trying to "nap."  Some were actually willing to visit - especially when one person walked past us telling the nurse they gave their height as "6 feet."  I can tell you the person was NOT 6 feet tall!  It did get several of us talking though!

There was also the person doing crochet.  We exchanged patterns.....  Sometimes you learn a new pattern and sometimes you laugh........  An interesting way to "wait."

What traditions do you have?  Are you able to do them?  How do you celebrate Christmas?  What are the memories you have of "past" Christmas traditions?  We were talking about it last night because we were in worship at 7 pm - which felt WAY early!  Christmas Eve services are supposed to be at 11 pm so you are coming out of the church a little after midnight -- THEN it is Christmas.

Or what about how we dress for Christmas service?  Do you still get the new outfit for the service?  We always got a new outfit for the first day of school and Christmas Eve.  No, I didn't get a new outfit in September OR for the service.  I did think about it as I was "people watching" before the service though.......

Do you explain the tradition?  "We always did it this way"........  Why?  I love the story of the new groom asking why the bride was cutting the ends off the ham.  "Because this how my mother did it."  So.....ask new mother in law who gives the same answer.  Soooooo...... ask new grandmother.....  "because I didn't have a big enough pan to fit the ham."  Sometimes you get to laugh!

​And....sometimes you go look at neighborhood lights after an "early" worship service.

So.....how are the roads where you are?  Do you have snow?  Can you get out even "just" for errands?  ARE you going to be traveling this holiday season?  We have an interesting mix of family "close" (an hour's drive away) and "far" (plane ride or 2 day drive).  We live "up north" so driving conditions can be an interesting (remember we laugh not scream!) challenge.  This winter has had some especially interesting weather from flooding (northwest) to SNOW (northeast) to "dangerous" windchill (Midwest) so travel has some issues.

​Yesterday I was traveling, flying to be with my son, and working through "dangerous wind chill" and "winter weather" (where he lives) so expecting delays.  The fun part was the delays......  The first delay was the plane arriving was late.  Then "those who need more time" were boarded.  I had just sat in my seat when they told us we needed to get off the plane.  "Something is wrong we have to switch planes."  So there were three of us climbing back up the jetway and sitting in the first chairs we found!  Then the delay while they found another plane (and crew) AND we had to move gates (of course!).  The three of us, by this time, were having a great time!  Others were starting to join our conversations.  We decided that "old" people could say anything! Then the second plane came and we were each in our own seats.

The fun didn't end though.....  The "winter weather" where we were landing caused some issues getting to the gate.  As in our plane slid right past where it was supposed to turn.  The crew (on the plane AND on the ground) did GREAT! I just wish I could have had a picture of the tow truck "turning" the plane into the gate......   Like I've said...... you need to laugh or you will start screaming!! 

Sometimes memories, and laughing, is how you get through the more recent difficulties.  Like trying to walk with "slippery" conditions.  Or climb steps.  The difficulties, now, were steps in the balcony with nothing to hold onto while going up, or down, to where we were seated.  Then there is also trying to cross with snow on the ground.  Someone had shoveled but the "white" lines in the cross walk were where it was slippery - the pavement was OK.

All of which brought to mind the first cruise with Dad.   We were "booking it" back into port with some pretty good sized waves.  The captain had come on the loud speaker..... "rough seas so when walking please use the hand rails."  This is a very good idea!  My balance, and walking, was causing interesting difficulties.  I couldn't grab Dad - I would have taken us both down.  I thought the hand rails an excellent idea.  One problem...... there are large portions of the ship WITH OUT hand rails!  I made new friends in a hurry.

So.....now....... slippery roads and steps in balconies.........  I tend to walk like a duck in slippery conditions.  Thankfully there was a person to help at the steps in the balcony. As with most learning experiences..... it is better to laugh or you will start screaming!

How are you doing with getting things done, changing seasons and being ready for them?  Have you thought about "opening" things like I asked a couple of posts back?  Have you found the various things you have put "in a safe" place?  How many people are in your "village"?

The three sisters are living in the same house taking care of the three sisters.  We are the village and have found that we are regularly helping each other.  Sometimes it is the sister who can get things open - jar, medicine bottle or box.  Sometimes it is the one who can find the "safe" place something was put in/on.  Sometimes it is the one who keeps cleaning things up/off.  Recently it took two of us to figure out how to work with the lining of the winter coat.  We also, thankfully, have wonderful neighbors who help "open" jars AND clean snow away.

So......  how big is your village?  What does your village help with?  Like I've said before laughing is better than screaming!  Something to think about........

"A long time ago...in a land far away......"  
Oh! Wait!  That line is from a movie!!  These memories are from a "long time ago" but just a different part of the US...not a 'land' far away.  We probably don't need to make a movie about it either - but in this world where we all seem to be going our own way...not even seeing others it does give something to think about.

In the early 70s we were in college and working toward graduation.  Both sets of parents had moved - the joke about the kids going to college and the parents moving wasn't a joke!  Meanwhile it was Thanksgiving, on a college campus with a large group of us not able to afford gas to go to family "far away."  One of our places of employment gave us a turkey...... a rather large turkey... especially for only two people. So..........  We invited the Bible study.......  Our apartment was "central" and we had the turkey so we ate at our apartment - pretty much all afternoon.

Thankfully the turkey came with cooking instructions and a piece that "popped out" when done.  My problem was fixing the stuffing.  So I did what we all do.  I called Mom and asked "which end do I stuff?"  

Yup...... you guessed it....... When she stopped laughing.......  She said "both ends, dear, both ends."

Even today it is better to laugh!!  Something to think about........

How are you at getting things opened?  A bottle of water, the new prescription of pills (with the "child proof cap), the carton of milk or anything else with a cap.....  How do you get the top off of something?  We have some "grippers" that help - but two of us have issues with our thumbs so the third person, here in the house, is the one we "go to" to get something open.  I will also admit to seeing if the neighbor is home.

How about when you are traveling?  I usually ask the clerk, in the convenience store, to open the apple juice bottle.  I can also say most strangers are very willing to help open something (or reach something from the tops shelf at the store) if you ask. 

I will also tell you it is a good idea to be able to laugh about it!  So......how do you get something open?  Something to think about..........

How are you doing with laughter?  Do you get at least a chuckle?  Maybe with some of the stories I share?  Maybe as you are watching something (even the news) on TV?  Or maybe you get a chance to people watch - which can cause different reactions including laughter.  Or.... how about laughing at, or with, yourself?  Sometimes we can be our own best start for laughter.

Last week we were able to take a scenic train trip through the beautiful fall colors along the north shore of Lake Superior.  It was awesome!!  There were also several sets of steps with various heights for the actual steps.  The biggest challenge was in the "dome car" where we were seated.  There was a high step up to a shorter step to be able to sit down at the table.  It was tricky but we all were able to sit down.  Then we were getting settled in, taking off coats and I needed to "step down" for a minute.  It was even trickier than actually sitting down. 

You guessed it.....  I landed in the laps of the table across the aisle from us.  Thankfully we were all able to laugh about it!  Sometimes laughter IS the best medicine!!  So.... how are you doing with laughter?  Something to think about.........