Tis the Season....

...and everyone's extremely busy with all that goes on in life around the holidays. No exception here, either. Because I work in retail, totally busy days don't leave much time for working on a To Do list; just the bare essentials get done on some days. I'm sure its the same with some of you, as well.

But this is the time I can celebrate something else: one year ago, I signed papers and bought my first house. It's been a good year *knock on wood* Even though my AC unit quit in the middle of summer, much of the cost was covered by my warranty -- a very good investment, in my opinion! Life has been good to me in Arizona, and I am extremely grateful for the people who have touched my life in one way or another. (ya'll know who you are!!) Work has been plentiful, no loss of hours, or wage cuts have affected me, and in this economy, that's very good news!

I'm not sure how many of you have put up a tree this year. I debated back and forth over putting up my tree, but finally relented, and it's up. It looks so cheerful standing tall in front of my bay window. Last year, I put up the Christmas tree in the new house, but it stood there looking so lonely as it was the only thing in the living room! This year, the traditions officially start, and the tree in front of the window is the first step, it appears. Which got me thinking: How do you feel when you put up your tree? Do you remember all the times you decorated your tree in the past? Are there traditions that you might not even be aware of? the location? when you decorate? who helps? I love the smell of a fresh cut tree; it brings back so many memories of growing up. We'd travel up over the hill to Santa Cruz to find the perfect tree, cut it down, then driving back, we'd stop at the beach, or maybe for pizza on the way home. The tree always sat in a bucket of water on the back patio until the next weekend (to get the bugs shaken off? give it a good drink? haha) And decorating the tree was for everyone to share in. I liked doing the strings of tinsel! *Note: You will not find any of that on my tree -- It was messy!

My daughter related a story to me: It seems my granddaughter, who is 8, decided to be a good helper while her mom was napping, and assemble the Christmas tree herself. I guess the small branches are toward the bottom, the bigger branches toward the top. I have this image of an upside down triangle shaped tree!! And bless her, she did it all by herself! :)

Tis the Season HUGGGS to everyone!

Keep the Music Playing?

Robert Browning writes: Who hears music, feels his solitude peopled at once.

Listening to your favorite music is an easy way to carve out a private interlude. Music is one of the most sensuous ways in which Life flirts with us. Enjoying music that makes us feel good, or feel better, is an important way to pamper ourselves. How easy it is at the end of the day to think "I've had enough people, enough noise, I just want quiet." But what are you missing? Have you taken the time to actually revel in this sensory pleasure?

I was reading about a woman who was alone again in her life. And she began sorting out all the 'love songs' in her collection, since there was no one to share those with anymore. And she asked herself why? Those are all tunes she loves to listen to; not allowing herself to hear them because there was no one to share them with wasn't an acceptable reason to weed them out of her collection.

It's funny, when we're in love and we hear the word ~you~ in the chorus, we immediately associate the song with that person. On the other hand, its hard to hear those songs and not feel the emptiness of not having someone in our life. But maybe the answer is a little more simple than that. Try thinking of the song as Life serenading it to YOU! Take some time today to indulge, to love yourself, with some of your favorite tunes; feel the power music has over us, let it take you to places you haven't been in a while.

For me, music has always been a powerful part of my life. I'm been collecting CD's for years, and have a strangely eclectic collection. A friend of mine started an internet radio station, and invited me to try DJ'ing (here) and I found out [after the trial and error period], that I really enjoy it! If you have some free time, pop in and give a listen (Thanks, David!)

Musical HUGS to everyone!