As The Sun Sets on 2011
Christmas is over. Are you breathing a big sigh of relief like I am? All the weeks of preparation and shopping are behind us now. The bank account has shrunk but the waistline has grown. We have one son who left yesterday to go to New York to celebrate the New Year with his friends and one who left to go back home to Canada this morning. Our daughter is back to her own routine in her own home. All of this leaves our house quiet. Peaceful. Serene.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my family and enjoyed the time we all spent together but it does feel really good to get back to normal again. Traditionally, in our family, we I put all the Christmas decorations away on January 1st. I have to tell you though, it is killing me to have to wait that long. To me, when it’s over, it’s over. I like a clean cut ending. If I had my way I would have the tree down and all the decorations put away on midnight of the 25th of December.
Now that all the rush and craziness is over I’ve been reflecting on this Christmas and some of my fondest holiday memories. This year I loved driving through a few neighbourhoods here in Florida that featured some over-the-top decorations. Wow, some people really get into decorating their homes! These extremely decorated neighbourhoods made our three little lit deer and one lit angel look very sad in comparison. In fact we don’t refer to them as deer anymore but call them our Christmas mice now. Still, I can’t imagine going that far…but I sure appreciate those who do so that we can ooh and ahh. One home even had real bubbles coming out of a blow up ginger bread house on their front lawn.
Another memory I’ll cherish is when my husband and I walked to the beach to watch the sun go down on Christmas day. There were quite a few people out walking and enjoying a “beverage” on the beach. The atmosphere was lovely with everyone wishing each other an exuberant “Merry Christmas!” Two guys played their guitars while the sun sank into the horizon. It was beautiful; a perfect end to a special day.
Now that the sun is setting on 2011, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our readers for stopping by Tara Cronica and checking in with us despite your own busy lives. We appreciate your visits and your comments. I wish you all the very best for the New Year and look forward to seeing you here again in 2012!
Svaha (May a Blessing Rest on You)
xo
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8 Comments
Tracy Westerholm
Wish I had been there to walk on the beach with you and John…(insert record scratching sound here) Okay in general not maybe in that moment! It was wonderful to hear your voice on Christmas Day! I miss you so much!
Another year has come and gone and we have grown a little more, not in our waist-line hopefully but in mind and spirit.
The New Year to me is always a fresh start. No resolutions just more memories to make and again enjoy those who come into my life for how ever long they decide to stay.
I wish all our Tara readers a Exhilarating year ahead making memories that will last a life time!
Svaha xo
This year I am with you on getting the decorations put away! Just the tree is left standing and if it so much as looks at me the wrong way…it’s life is over 🙂
Bonnie Johnson
Update: The tree is down and the decorations are all put away and I feel G O O D!
🙂
Tracy Westerholm
Oh you Bum! I’m a little superstitious for that drastic of a move? :0
But I bet you feel ‘new’ now!
Tracy Westerholm
Beautiful picture by the way!
Bonnie Johnson
Ha ha! I totally feel new again!
That picture was just from my cheap little $50 phone too. Can’t wait for you to experience the sunsets here. They are really amazing. So are the sun rises but we miss most of those 😉
Tracy Westerholm
I can’t wait to experience the sunsets too, and hopefully a few sunrises as well, loved those moments in the Okanagan so know I will there too!
Happy New Year Bon Bon and John and James! xoxoxo and the rest of the family! xox
Lozz
Nice pic…we watched the sunset over the ski hill Christmas Day and you over the ocean. Same sun, different part of the world…both equally beautiful.
Bonnie Johnson
True dat Lozz!