My Favorite Things- BFF 147

    

      When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I am feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad!! Sing along if you know it!! I can’t imagine too many people around who don’t recognize this song, or the classic movie “The Sound of Music” from which it comes.

What makes me happy?? What are my favorite things?? I had to really think about this so I could compile a good list. So here it goes in no particular order…

1. I love cats! Petting a soft contented feline who is sashaying around my hand vibrating with happiness as I caress it would have to rank right up there as one of my favorite things. I love their big bushy tails and have often wondered how they purr! When I was little I used to wish our cats would purr for me. They rarely did. Perhaps it was my tendency to chase them, tackle them like a linebacker, and squash them that put them off. Happily my three cats today: Pansy, Snuggle Puss, and Rosie have the good sense to purr every time I look at them, let alone pet them.

2. I love my dogs because they love me. My favorite thing about my dogs Jolly, Puppy Love, and Tia is that wherever I am they are close by. When I go to sleep at night they snuggle up at my side keeping me toasty warm. The only time they leave my side is when my husband comes home. Then they fight to all snuggle up to him.

3. I love waking up in the morning to discover the world covered with a fresh blanket of the white stuff. Before it has been touched by footprints and the cars have turned it into blackened slush, I love how the snow turns the world into a wintry world of white. It is so magical!

4. I love sitting in the dark and gazing at my lighted Christmas tree in the silence.

5. I love eating cotton candy!! Cotton candy is definitely one of my favorite things!

6. I love watching movies!! Movies that thrill, make me laugh, make me cry, and make me smile!! I am not too thrilled with the kind that scare the be Je$u$ out of me though. I tend to avoid the ones that would give me nightmares. I love feel good movies, movies with amazing effects, or movies that excite me.

7. I love zooming around the neighborhood with my husband and kids on the golf cart!

8. I love to play games with my kids! I love card games, board games, and LEGO games, so count me in!!

9. I love the beauty of the sea and watching the tide lap in and out on the sand.

10. Last but certainly not least, I love to laugh!! It sure as hell beats crying. Laughing is one of my favorite things.

     I am sure I have more favorite things and the list could go on forever to infinity and beyond. Still here is a list, and that is all that is required, just a few of my favorite things! Just a note, loving G0d is a given like breathing so I didn’t include it on the “list”. That is all I have until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.

Once Upon a Christmas- BFF 146

   

     When I was a little kid it was often up to my Dad to get us kids out of the house on Christmas Eve so my mother could finish wrapping the presents. I remember these Christmas Eve nights fondly. We would head out into the snowy night to some of the nicer housing additions in town to Oooo and Ahhh at the Christmas lights and displays. We would travel down the snow covered roads slowly gazing at the houses adorned with brightly colored twinkling Christmas lights. Although none of them compared to Clark Griswald’s house or the house in “Deck the Halls”, they still were magical as they twinkled in the night.

     One Christmas when I was small we were driving through a housing addition not far from home when we spied none other than Santa Claus standing beside the Christmas tree inside the house. Being impressionable little kids who believed without a shadow of a doubt that if we were not home in bed asleep when Santa arrived at our house he would pass us by, we begged to hurry home. If Santa was in this neighborhood, it wouldn’t be long and he would be on our street!! This was serious!!! We had to get home and in bed asleep quick or we would be screwed out of Christmas.

   

     As soon as the Ford Ranchero rolled to a stop in our driveway, we were scrambling out and rushing up to the front door. My mom came rushing out to see what all the commotion was about. My sister and I were so excited we were talking at once exclaiming that we HAD to go to bed NOW! Santa was on his way!! I don’t remember anytime before or since ever getting into my pajamas that quickly or my teeth brushed that fast. Soon we were hanging our stockings and rushing to bed. Normally I would have begged my Dad to read me “The Night before Christmas” before I went to bed. Not this Christmas Eve. There wasn’t time!! I jumped into bed, covered my head and held my breath in eager anticipation. Did I hear the jingle bells of Santa’s sleigh?? Was that the pawing of the reindeer on the roof??? I screwed my eyes up tight!! When would morning ever come?? Before long, to my utter horror I realized I forgot the cookies and milk for Santa and the carrots for the reindeer!!! With my heart hammering in my chest, I flew out of bed and raced slipping and sliding in my footed pajamas on the hard wood floors to the living room.

     My stocking still hung limp and empty. I wasn’t too late!! My mom helped me assemble Christmas cookies and carrots on a paper plate and a glass of milk. I placed my offering on the hall table near where our stockings hung. With another kiss good night, my mom tucked me back into bed warning me to go to sleep. Now everything was ready and Santa Claus could come. Although I don’t remember when I fell asleep, in what seemed an instant I awoke. It was still dark in my room. With a toy flashlight, I hurried from my bed and tiptoed out to where my stocking had been hung. To my delight, the stockings were packed to overflowing and seemed to sparkle in the light of my flashlight. The cookies and carrots were gone save for a few lingering crumbs! I raced to wake up my older sister and together we descended on my parent’s dark bedroom screaming “Merry Christmas!! Santa has been here!! Get up!!! Hurry! “ We jumped up and down on their bed in our exuberance.

     Once upon a Christmas, I actually saw Santa, anticipated Santa’s arrival, and celebrated when he in fact had made an appearance. Santa Claus may be a myth to some, but for those that believe like me…the shiny bell from the fascinating movie “The Polar Express” will forever ring. That is all I have to say until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.