"The Truth About Growing Older..."

I've clearly entered Stage 4

The festive season now manages to brings me some joy... But when I was a teenager and later a young man, it was the loneliest and most forlorn time of the year. I watched my brothers and sisters marry and raise families and live out the Christmases that I dared not even dream of.  But somehow, I managed to be born in time to see the world change before my very eyes. With great effort, many of my dreams came true. I have known love, marriage, and a family. I have Christmases to remember that were happy and filled with the delight and wonder of a family life filled with wonderful holiday celebrations. Our children are grown and on their own now, it's just Husband and I for the most part. And as for me, when I am not working, I am always remembering...

It's hard for me to fathom that there are several generations of folks walking around who have no idea about the joy the arrival of this catalog brought to the lives of little kids like I once was.

And Montgomery Ward has been gone even longer, and yet I can walk around my home and point out all the things I bought there.

And my late sister, Ora Jean would have killed for her own phone for Christmas.

And I remember my dear old Dad almost got killed when he fell for this malarkey and bought Mom a vacuum for Christmas back in 1972.

Yes, I am always remembering...

And sometimes, I don't mind it at all