12/26/2023 0 Comments 189) My Vlogmas Journey in Florida... Sharing in the Holiday Spirit Together on YouTube! December 1-25 2023Hey Holiday Dreamers!! It’s been a joy of my life to spend time with you on YouTube this December! And I really want to thank you for dreaming alongside me this holiday season 2023! We explored numerous places together, experienced many new special moments together, cooked, baked, unboxed, drank festive non-alcoholic beverages together, traveled, rode an auto ferry, took the car on the beach, had a hotel room tour, I boarded a river cruise for a tour and dinner, St. Nicholas came to visit us, we opened Advent calendars, lit candles, sat by some lovely fireplace yule logs, and much more. And with YouTube Shorts, videos, and 26 live streams during the course of 25 days! I’d say it’s near impossible for me to pick a favorite day of Vlogmas 2023, because I really just love the entire 25 days, of course. But, if I ‘must’ pick something that really stood out to me, I’d say it was the Parade of Trees in Green Cove Springs, Florida! A shocking 225 Christmas Trees decorated in their town square! It was a completely new experience to me, and I was truly shocked with how elaborate the display was. I definitely want to go back next year - on a warmer day - lol. And, not a surprise to me, I especially enjoyed all the food and drink and baking and cooking we did together. I truly believe there’s really something special about good food, shared with great friends... And that’s exactly how I felt with every single cup we shared together, as well as all the special appetizers and cookies. And, it is my hope - that you felt the same way. So, I just wanted to say THANK YOU. Thank you for being a fellow dreamer in this crazy world, and thank you for seeing the goodness in this special time of year, and thank you especially, for being a friend, and spending precious time with me. Thank you for helping me spread a smile and cup of good cheer and great tidings throughout the world, as the world surely does need more Cheer in it. All of this and then some - it means the world. And, last but certainly not least - I love you. Merry Christmas and Happiest of Holidays. Christine P.S. - Definitely drop me a comment and let me know what was your favorite day of this Vlogmas 2023 series of videos?? I’m so curious, and I’d love to know your thoughts! Plus - if you have any ideas or suggestions for next year - Vlogmas 2024 - most definitely let me know! I do read every comment, and I plan in depth for Vlogmas, far in advance, and I’d love to incorporate any new experiences or ideas that you may be interested in. So thank you in advance for your submissions! This was filmed during the dates between December 1st and December 25th, 2023 in and throughout the beautiful state of Florida. Video 241. #vlogmas #florida #vlogmas2023 ___
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12/25/2023 0 Comments 188) My Christmas Wish For You... Merry Christmas Morning from Jacksonville, Florida!! Vlogmas 2023 Day 25!What I Wish For You This Christmas Day… I love you, Christine This was filmed LIVE on Monday, December 25, 2023 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Video 235. Livestream 65. #vlogmas #merrychristmas #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/22/2023 0 Comments 185) San Marco Town Square Christmas Tree in Jacksonville Florida! Balis Park - Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 22Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 22 baby! Today I am celebrating my 43rd birthday! And I’m very excited to spend a part of my special day with you this Vlogmas! We are going to one of my very favorite areas in all of Jacksonville - the beautiful and historic San Marco neighborhood! We’re going to have a cup of coffee together from Starbucks, plus we bought a peppermint cake pop and a snowman cookie. And we’re going to check out the lovely lion fountain and see the lions with their wreaths on! Then we'll check out the magnificent Christmas Tree under the gazebo in Balis Park. So join me - on my Birthday - in one of my favorite spots in town - San Marco! Love you, Christine This was filmed LIVE on Friday, December 22, 2023 in the historic neighborhood of San Marco in Jacksonville, Florida. Video 230. Livestream 62. #vlogmas #jacksonville #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/21/2023 0 Comments 184) December Evening Walk down Ponte Vedra Boulevard in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida - Vlogmas 2023 Day 21Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 21 baby! Tonight we are going for a short walk down Ponte Vedra Boulevard in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. We’re here to check out all the decorated palm trees lining the way through the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Now, keep in mind, we are not club members, although I can dream, and anyone can walk down the public street lining the private club and hotel. It is a dream of mine to at least stay at the hotel one day. And even if one is not a club member, anyone can stay the night in the hotel. So, maybe I will have to do that at some point. But, for tonight, we’re just taking a leisurely December evening stroll to gaze at all the palm trees, decked out in their holiday finest. There’s also a grand water fountain, surrounded by gators and pelicans, as the centerpiece of the club entryway, so we’re going to take a look at that as well. I do hope you enjoy coming along with me this evening! Get your walking shoes on my friends. Merry Vlogmas! Love you, Christine For more information on the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, check out the link below: https://www.pontevedra.com/ This was filmed LIVE on Thursday, December 21, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Video 228. Livestream 61. #vlogmas #pontevedrabeach #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/20/2023 0 Comments 183) Beautiful Vilano Beach Christmas Tree at the Pier in Vilano Beach Florida! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 20Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 20 baby! Tonight we are walking to the Vilano Beach Christmas Tree, which is located right at the base of the Vilano Beach Pier. We’ll check out their gorgeous Tree, and then walk on the Pier to see the boats coming and going to see the St. Augustine Nights of Lights! I’m really excited because I have never seen the Vilano Beach Christmas Tree in all the years living in Florida! And, the Pier at night seemingly offers very different scenery than during the day. So, overall, this is a new experience for me, and I’m happy to explore it with y’all. Merry Vlogmas Day 20, and Happy Holidays! Love you, Christine For some fascinating history about Vilano Beach, check out the link below: https://www.vilanobeachfl.com/history/ This was filmed LIVE in Vilano Beach, Florida on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Video 226. Livestream 60. #vlogmas #vilanobeach #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/19/2023 0 Comments 182) Parade of Trees!! 225 Christmas Trees on Display in Green Cove Springs, Florida! Vlogmas 2023 Day 19Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Well, this may have been one of my favorite nights of Vlogmas 2023… I was SHOCKED by this exhibit! Parade of Trees is a must-do if you are in the greater Jacksonville area or St. Augustine area of Florida during the holiday season. I am so glad we happened to come here this year. And I do hope you enjoy the trees as much as I do. So, we decided to go to the Parade of Trees in downtown Green Cove Springs, Florida on a chilly and brisk December evening. This event is free, walk through at your own pace, and open from sunset until 10pm - nightly, from December 2, 2023 through December 31, 2023. Upon stepping out of the car, I felt truly immersed in the holiday spirit. That feeling stayed with me as I walked briskly through the display - it was cold, my friends. And my goal of doing Vlogmas, is hopefully to pass along some of that spirit to you and yours. So, please share in a cup of Good Cheer and Great Tidings this December. And let’s walk through 225 trees - together. Love you, Christine Spring Park in Green Cove Springs is located at: 106 St. Johns Avenue Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043 Further information on the Parade of Trees in Green Cove Springs, Florida can be found at: https://www.greencovesprings.com/292/Parade-of-Trees This was filmed LIVE on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 in Green Cove Springs, Florida. Video 223. Livestream 59. #vlogmas #greencovesprings #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/18/2023 0 Comments 181) Let's Walk to the Beaches Town Center Christmas Tree in Neptune Beach, Florida!! Vlogmas 2023 Day 18Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 18! Join me on a walk throughout Neptune Beach to see the Beaches Town Center Christmas Tree! Located ‘Where Atlantic Boulevard Meets the Ocean’ this is a combined Christmas Tree - shared with the town of Atlantic Beach, Florida. Quite a cool feature of this downtown area is that the towns Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach share a downtown, connected together, so that’s why they have a conjoined Christmas Tree as well. I also really love all the colorfully lit palm trees throughout the downtown, oversized ornaments and present boxes, Santa surfboards, and lifeguard chairs with wreaths adorned. After we see the tree, then we’re going to take a night walk on the beach. So put your walking shoes on and join me! Love you, Christine This was filmed LIVE on Monday, December 18, 2023 in Neptune Beach, Florida. Video 220. Livestream 58. #vlogmas #neptunebeach #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/15/2023 0 Comments 178) A Nor'Easter Seafoam Sunrise Walk in Jax Beach, Florida! Plus - Deck the Chairs! Vlogmas 2023 Day 15Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 15 baby! Today, we are walking! Together we are walking 0.85 miles together - so get your watches ready y’all! Plus, there’s a NorEaster - and it’s windy, which is stirring up a lot of seafoam. I LOVE seafoam y’all. Then, we’re going to check out the 2023 Deck the Chairs display during the day. By viewing the exhibit in daylight I definitely find myself catching details I don’t see at night. So grab your walking shoes, folks. We’re going on a December morning stroll together. Love you, Christine Further information on Deck the Chairs can be found at: https://deckthechairs.org/ This was filmed LIVE on Friday, December 15, 2023 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Video 211. Livestream 55. #vlogmas #deckthechairs #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/14/2023 0 Comments 177) Hot Chocolate on the Porch, Advent Calendars, Unboxings, plus - a Surprise!! Vlogmas 2023 Day 14!!Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 14 baby! Pull up a chair, grab a hot cocoa, and don’t forget your marshmallows! Tonight, we are having a mug of hot chocolate together on the porch. Plus, we’ll open our Advent Calendars, do some other holiday related unboxings, open an early birthday present, and, lastly I have a special surprise I want to show y’all here first! Love you, Christine This was filmed LIVE on Thursday, December 14, 2023 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Video 209. Livestream 54. #vlogmas #hotchocolate #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/13/2023 0 Comments 176) A Cold and Windy Evening Walk around the Beaches History Museum in Jax Beach Florida! Vlogmas Day 13Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 13 baby! Tonight, I’m taking you on quite a chilly and windy evening stroll around the grounds of the Beaches History Museum in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. This little gem of a stop, located along Beach Boulevard, is all decorated for the holidays. And, to me, the entire place looks like a beautiful Christmas Village IRL. So, join me on a mini walking tour… They were about to close for the night so I had to be fast. However, it was cold just the same, so I enjoyed it the best I could for a quick little visit. I hope you enjoy coming along with me as I take in the sights, and the lights, of the Beaches History Museum during the holiday season. I love it so much - I come here every Christmas to see the decorations. Love you, Christine The Beaches History Museum is located at: 381 Beach Boulevard Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250 For further information on the Beaches History Museum, visit: https://www.beachesmuseum.org/ This was filmed LIVE on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Video 206. Livestream 53. #vlogmas #jacksonvillebeach #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/12/2023 0 Comments 175) St. Augustine Nights of Lights in historic downtown St. Augustine Florida! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 12Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Greetings from the very festive and historic Downtown St. Augustine, Florida! And Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 12 baby! Well folks, tonight we're at another must-do attraction if you’re spending Christmas in the South! The St. Augustine Nights of Lights truly is one of the most magnificent (and FREE) holiday spectacles anywhere in the Sunshine State! This walk-thru event, taking place nightly from Saturday, November 18, 2023 until Sunday, January 28, 2024, can be experienced at your own pace, and taken in at your leisure. There is no one right way to experience the Lights - the important thing is just that you DO experience them. I highly recommend a visit, and it’s a very reasonable drive if you’re in the Jacksonville greater area during the holidays. So, get out there and see the Lights, and let me know what you think?! Love you, Christine Further information on the St. Augustine Nights of Lights can be found at: https://www.visitstaugustine.com/event/nights-lights This was filmed LIVE on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 in the magnificent and historic downtown St. Augustine, Florida. Video 202. Livestream 52. #vlogmas #staugustine #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/11/2023 0 Comments 174) Drive Thru Full POV Blackhawk Bluff Girvin Road Holiday Lights! Jacksonville Florida! Vlogmas Day 11Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day 11 baby. Wow, you guys! This is a must do while in Jacksonville, Florida during the holiday season. Tonight, we are taking you on a full point-of-view drive-thru immersive experience of the Blackhawk Bluff Holiday Lights Display on Girvin Road in Jacksonville, Florida. See the sights of Christmas and hear the sounds of holiday wishes being declared to the world. It’s the spirit of the season truly at its finest, folks. So go ahead and enjoy the Blackhawk Bluff Lights as much as I enjoyed filming them and experiencing them with you. Love you, Christine Additional information on Blackhawk Bluff’s Holiday Light Display can be found at: https://www.jacksonvillebeachmoms.com/blackhawk-bluff/ This was filmed LIVE on Monday, December 11, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. Video 200. Livestream 51. #vlogmas #jacksonville #vlogmas2023 ___ 12/2/2023 0 Comments 162) Merry Vlogmas 2023 Day One - A Very Humid & Wet Evening Stroll thru Neptune Beach FloridaHey Holiday Dreamers!! Merry Vlogmas Day One! Join me and my Shetland Sheepdog LIVE in Neptune Beach, Florida this evening as we take a leisurely stroll searching for Christmas decorations! We also had two cups of hot chocolate and marshmallows to keep us ‘warm’ - in the Florida humidity, of course. The night was foggy and very humid, with a cloudy mist in the air and a low fog out on the horizon line. Ahhhh - These are my favorite types of evenings at the Beach. We were driving around Neptune Beach trying to find any decorated houses that we could, and we stumbled upon a little ‘Christmas Village’ type scene and knew we wanted to walk through it. Then we walked out to the dark and desolate and wet beach of the Atlantic Ocean. The waves were intense - still! Not another soul was around. We had the beach to ourselves, and it was a lovely way to end the evening. Thank you for joining me as we celebrate the start of Vlogmas 2023. Please go ahead and SHARE out my content for others to enjoy all the festivities of this magical season! SUBSCRIBE - if you’re new here - WELCOME! And hit the LIKE button which will really help out this channel full of Dreamers. And - Thanks for joining me in a cup of good cheer! Love you, Christine This was filmed LIVE on Friday, December 2, 2023 in Neptune Beach, Florida. Livestream number 40. #vlogmas2023 #vlogmas #neptunebeach ___ 12/25/2021 0 Comments 115) Now More Than Ever~ As Christmas Day Is Here ~ Now More Than Ever As Heaven And Angels Sing. Now More Than Ever Glory Be To The NewBorn King. Now More Than Ever My Faith Is Tested Like Never Before. My World Is Full Of Such Horrific Sorrow As I Embark On This Next New Endeavor. As Friends Become Foes And As Family Becomes The Enemy. God’s Enduring Love Must Be Our Enduring Legacy. What Will I Do When The Devil Is At My Door? Will I Stand By My Convictions Or Will I Corrow In The Corner? Is All Religion Based Upon Fear As My Glorious Christmastime Comes Near? Or Is All Of Fear Itself Wholly And Whole A Lack Of Religion and Quite Severe? As We Only Have Fear Itself To Fear Let Us Fear Not - Because God Is Truly Here. It Is Our Faith That Will Indeed Help Us Cope As We Enter This Season Of Perpetual Hope. As World War Three Is On My Horizon Freedom Lovers Must Now Not Frighten. As Our Enemies Have Already Prepared Their Battleships We Really Need To Dust Off Our Own Crumbling Airstrips. Liberty Itself Is Once Again At Risk As Each Generation Sadly Must Fight For It. Lives Will Always Be Lost In The Name Of Freedom We Cannot Know It Only By Visiting A Historic Museum. Now More Than Ever Before In Our Lives And Not Discreetly We Fight For Those Freedoms Or We Will Lose Them Completely. Those Liberties That We Hold So Dear Will Slip Away With The Passing Of Each Year. Even If Churches Are Still Closed And If Only We Could See Him Transposed. God Is Truly On Our Side Just Look Up To Those Heavenly Skies. Now More Than Ever He Is Right There In The Twinkling Stars. Listen For The Cry Of Angels As The Hover Over The Little Wooden Manger. Maybe Belief Doesn’t Belong Inside A Building After All. And Maybe Now More Than Ever God Is Standing Straight And Tall. Maybe We Just Simply Need To Follow Him And Maybe Jesus Is Much Bigger Than We All Could Ever Realize. As He Is The Only True God Ignore Everybody Else In All Their Camouflage Disguise. Now More Than Ever False Gods Are On Every Corner. Now More Than Ever We Hear Them So We Don’t Get Bothered. By The One True God Which Is The Only Way. And That Route Is Harder Than All the Others Which Will Eventually All Wither And Decay. Now More Than Ever The Harder Choice Is The Right One. Now More Than Ever Being With My God Is Like Living On The Run. But Don’t Run My Dears As You Don’t Have To Flee. Live The Life Jesus Died For Without Fear As You Stay Humble And Stay Free. And Let Us Honor Our Country's Founding Fighters As We Brush Past All The Messy Distraction and Fodder. Follow The Christmas Star As It Gets Brighter. As We Live For That Heavenly Father. Now More Than Ever In Solidarity With Those Who Died For Our Very Freedom May We Honor Their Bravery And Courage Under Fire And Their Ultimate Sacrifice As Their Day Did Indeed Come. Now More Than Ever And With Every Single Day At This Very Time And In This Very Place. In The Name Of Freedom I Shall Live With Courage Of My Very Own For Goodness Sakes. Because The Devil Is Here My Friends And He’s Shining Just As Bright He Is Fighting Too And He’s Doing It With All His Might. Look Away For A Second And You May Be Distracted By His Light. As The Situation Each Day Continues To Be Dire And Full of Fright. Looking Down At Our Phones And Not In Each Other's Eyes. It’s So Very Very Easy To Fall For The Devil's Lies. And As The World Tries To Take My God Away From Me Now More Than Ever I WIll Never Ever Let That Be. Now More Than Ever As Christmas Day Is Here I Will Stand Atop The Hills And I Will Shout Loud And Clear. Our God Is Here And He Is Within You I Shall Say Behold Seekers All The Tidings Of Great Joy. As Now More Than Ever I Will Hold Fast And Stay Forever True To My Freedom And My Religion And To My Red, White, And Very Blue.~ 12/23/2019 0 Comments #34) Merry Christmas ~ And How To Buy For That Person On Your List Who Saved Your Life ~During the opening scene of the holiday film classic, White Christmas, Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) saves Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby’s) life. It’s World War II. Bombs flying overhead. Rubble and lots of blown up, destroyed buildings half-standing all around. Davis pulls Wallace out of the path of a swaying and then falling, crumbling, and collapsing red brick building wall. He saves Wallace’s life - and injures his own arm in the process. While in the hospital tent recovering, Wallace goes to visit Davis. To check on him. To thank him. For saving his life. “It was a life worth saving,” Davis proudly proclaims. And simple, matter-of-fact like. He might as well of said, “No prob….” “No big deal.” “I do that sorta thing all the time!” You see, Davis lived a happy, silly, and very innocent existence. Cheerful all the time, even on the lowest of days, he would find the bright spot, he would always be the jokester. Any scene he was in, it was a scene filled with joy and laughs. Wallace had always been much more serious. Even in show business, the entertainment business, he was always focused on the Business side of any Show. Wallace and Davis became business partners after the War ended. Wallace - watching the finances - Davis following the dream. Despite all cost. Money didn’t matter. He had a vision. And he was set to do it. To convince Wallace to go along with any of his pricey and elaborate schemes, Davis simply pointed to that arm of his. A constant reminder to Wallace that he had saved Wallace’s life… After all, it was a life worth saving. Those constant and nagging reminders given by Davis are imperative scenes in the films plot. From that point forward of Davis saving Wallace’s life, every time Davis needed or wanted anything… anything at all, he just points to that arm of his. So, ever and always hounded by Davis, Wallace repeatedly complied. Following Davis’s every whim, every desire, every dream. Even running to catch a train, and take a long, dreamy, and leisurely and quite lovely ride on the rails up north to Vermont. A trip he originally didn’t want to go on… and sleep in a drafty old club car - with no nice, warm bed? Wallace owed Davis. Big time. He’d do anything to appease Davis. After all, how do you repay someone who saved your life? It’s constant, right? For the rest of your life? There is no amount that can suffice such a reciprocal payment for services rendered. Wallace understood this. He knew no amount of money could repay Davis for the life he saved under the falling red brick building back during the War. How much does it cost to save a life? How much would a person pay to be saved? How much does Wallace owe Davis for his act of selflessness and heroism? It was a near-impossible equation to solve. Unless, maybe, getting some insurance adjusters and lawyers, or mediators or other adjudicators, and judges and juries involved to finally solve the problem of Davis constantly pointing to his arm??? No, Wallace would never do that… that would cost more MONEY! Just keep on appeasing him. Just keep on humoring Davis… for the rest of his life. It was worth it. He was ALIVE after all. In the end, they remain forever friends... And forever grateful of their drastically changed lives and all they had gone through together. War, and horror, death and destruction - to brand new post-war lives, the entertainment business, and finding the loves of their lives, together. Their happily ever afters. Together. So, the question remains today in lots of people’s lives… How do you repay the person who saved you? If your life was utterly and literally saved by someone else, how can you possibly repay them? Is there is price tag on that action? AND FURTHER - when the holidays come around each year, how do you give a gift...what do you buy… for that person on your list who saved your life? The answer is simple. I’ve watched White Christmas an infinite number of times. I have it memorized. I can taste the frothy and magical and very appealing drinks in the dining car scene onboard that infamous train ride up to Vermont... “Snow… Snow… Snow... Snow!” I can direct the remake if you’d like me to. I’m an expert. But, I always used to question Bing Crosby’s character in the film. Wallace never told Davis to SHUT UP, to STOP WITH THIS LIFE SAVING BUSINESS! He never gave in or gave up on him. He never yelled - Stop pointing to your arm! Stop reminding me you saved my life! Stop bothering me! Well, wait… maybe he did. “Sometimes I wish the wall had fallen on me…” Wallace complains to Davis. Awhhhh moans Davis, you don’t mean that! Maybe Wallace did tell Davis to schedadle. Go away. But in an innocent manner. He never really meant it. That’s why they remained life-long friends. They helped each other through a dark time. That never goes away. Even as life changes in the future. He will be forever grateful that Davis saved his life. You CANNOT put a price on a life. All life is precious. A life saved cannot be repaid. There is no amount. No check you can write. No card all-encompassing. When stuffing the envelopes for your holiday cards and you get to the person who saved your life… do you add some extra glitter in their card? After all, they need something extra from everyone else, right? Sure, every day, in trials and settlements, financial figures are calculated to affix and satisfy lawsuits etc. Insurance companies and attorneys calculate cost-of-life and benefits, etc. etc. etc. Money owed someone over the course of a lifetime - a calculated financial equivalent to compute what a life is worth with a dollar sign. But the money does not make a person whole. And life is not about the money. Which really explains why there is no suitable Christmas gift to give to the person who saved your life. There is only one way to repay the person who saved you. One Christmas gift you can give them. It is by living your life. A life of gratefulness. Of service. Of thanks and gratitude. Of giving and generosity. Living the amazing and completely priceless life you were given - by that person who saved you... By living your very best life - each and every day. Only someone who has been saved and pulled from the darkness can potentially even understand this. It just doesn’t happen all the time. That’s why there isn’t a section in the Hallmark card aisle devoted to it. We have - Merry Christmas to Mom & Dad, Happy Holiday’s To My Co-Worker, Dear Grandma, To My Dog Groomer - at Christmas… But where’s the card for - At Christmas… For Saving My LIfe??? I need that card. To give to someone I owe. But it doesn’t exist. And that’s ok. The person who saved you understands as much. They just want you to live your life. They don’t want a big thank you. I know this. I know this because my life was saved. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida saved my life. Both literally and figuratively... Physically and mentally. Three years ago. This will be my third Christmas since my life changed forever. How can I possibly repay them for what they did for me? I volunteered at the hospital for a years time. I donate. Etc. Etc. Etc. None of it adds up to how much they helped me. I could hand them the moon - because that’s what I want to do. I owe them everything. I cannot possibly repay them though. My first holiday season post-treatment at the Clinic, I wanted to do something for them to thank them. Nothing matched my gratefulness. I wracked my brain. There was no money. There was no Hallmark card?!.... I’ve got it! Food... I’ll bake cookies! Frosted Christmas Sugar Cookies - to be exact. So during the holidays of 2017, my husband and I spent an entire weekend in the kitchen. Baking. It was wonderful. After many years of marriage, it was our first time really taking some quality time together to simply do some solid and legitimate baking. And our first real slow-down during any Christmas, ever. And now, three years later, it is tradition. One weekend a holiday season, we stop everything. We don’t go see any Zoo Lights that weekend, we don’t go see the St. Augustine Nights of Lights that weekend, no Deck The Chairs, no Luminaria, no Christmas Pop-Up Bar, no Beaches Town Center Christmas Tree and lights, and no gingerbread house at One Ocean, we don’t shop at Rockaway Gardens or buy any Christmas greenery that weekend… we simply bake. I light festive and dreamy scented candles. We turn on Christmas movies in the background. Our apartment becomes a pine and fir and balsam and sugar and dough scented Heaven on Earth. And we bake. And frost… of course. By Monday, the day of my follow-up care each December, I go off to Mayo, with a box of sugary and holiday goodness in hand. I check in to my appointment, and drop the box off at the Pain Rehab Clinic. And then go on my way, to meet with everyone else who comes to these sessions, everyone else who has had their lives changed forever by the Pain Rehabilitation Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. We meet. We attend our sessions. We listen. We learn. We talk. We snack. We dine. We say goodbye. We go on with our lives afterward. Another two months go by. We all meet every other month. Coming from places near and far. Driving, flying, and yes, by train ride also. In the interim, we all keep in touch via a private Facebook Group for “Graduates” of the amazing program. We are not merely just patients who have been discharged. We are graduates of a program designed to give us life again. And we have access to the benefits of the Rehab Clinic for the rest of our lives afterward. After two months, we do it all again... But it’s that December session, during the holidays, when I always bring the cookies. By the end of all the baking and frosting during that wonderful weekend, I have a delicious box of cookies, all wrapped up and ready to go. I try to ‘up my game’ every year. Maybe better-shapes. Maybe better overall presentation. This year, we tried to master the difference between border frosting and flood frosting. I certainly did not “master” it by any means, but it was a great start, and hopefully my cookies will improve even more next year. A great article about border frosting and flood frosting can be found here - one that even a lazy baker can follow. When I drop off my cookies, I’m proud of myself for just a small milli-second. For “stopping my life” for 48 hours. For dropping everything. To give something to someone else. Something so very simple. But something to show and express my gratefulness. Gratitude goes a very long way. But cookies go even longer. This post is utterly and sincerely dedicated to all of the staff at the Mayo Pain Rehab Clinic. The doctors. The nurses. The occupational therapists. The physical therapists. Nutritionists. Pain Psychologists. Any and all other staff. The invisible and unnamed hard workers. The ones who stuff envelopes reminding us of our appointments. The awesome woman who always answers the phone. The people who keep all the amazing facilities clean and tidy and safe so that patients and doctors and nurses and other staff can do the life-saving work they need to do to get back out and into the world. The ones who are currently working very hard on building construction to renovate and add to the facility to make room for a whole additional team of patients, who will be able to partake in the program in the near future. Everyone. Thank you. There are no words. There is no amount of money. There is no Hallmark card I can buy. I can never repay you. I can bring you cookies. But I can never repay you. You saved my life. You brought me back to life. I know I helped just a little bit. And God did too. And I do give God all the credit here. But right now, this one’s for you. YOU deserve A LOT of the credit. I do the hard work it takes each and every day to continue to survive after my discharge and graduation. I know that. But y’all work so hard too. You deserve everything. You deserve the moon. You pulled me out from the bombs flying by overheard. You dragged me away from the heavy red brick wall collapsing on top of me. You lifted me out of the rubble and mess. You saved me from war and death and all the destruction it brings with it. All your hard work. All the efforts. Oh, the broken arms all the Phil Davis’s have endured to help save us patients. It can never be repaid. I can never thank you enough. But you know what? I think you know that. I think you know… that graduates living our very best lives, and doing our very best work to live a healthy, productive, generous and giving life ourselves, is our way of repaying you… each and every day. And I try to do just that. It’s a lifetime of work. Yes, it is for the rest of my life. As one of the most amazing humans the world has ever known always says and reminds us... this is a lifetime commitment. There is no end date. This lifestyle is a commitment we make with ourselves until we draw our very last breath upon this Earth. I completely understand what he means in every sense of those words. So thank you. Thank you for those words. Thank you for your help. Thank you for saving me. But it was a life worth saving. I try my best. I thank you forever. But my life and my life’s work ahead of me is my real thank you to you. I cannot repay you with money. I cannot even explain it in these words here and now. You know that... So Sugar Cookies will have to do in the interim. Thank you Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. God Bless the Pain Rehabilitation Center and staff. This is my Christmas gift to you. And Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of my very dear readers and subscribers. ~ *Editorial Note: This personal story is my Christmas gift to you (or someone you know) who can benefit from it in any way. If you, or someone you know, is in pain. If you are struggling. If you feel hopeless. If you are in chronic pain. If you are suffering severe depression. There is always light. There is always hope. I am not a doctor. I cannot save you. My hope with this blog is for you to use me simply as one example. To read about others, and their stories. Learn from them. Seek help. In this article is the physical facility I personally recommend. While everybody's experience will be different and unique to them, I am sharing my experience for others to benefit in any way. In my story, I am specifically referencing the Jacksonville, Florida branch of Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic has three branches - they are located in Rochester, MN, Jacksonville, FL, and Phoenix, AZ. In my own personal experience and my own personal opinion and not referring to anyone else’s, they are very different from one another. This article is referring specifically to the Jacksonville, Florida location. Their main phone number is 904.953.2000. Use my story and my example as a push to get you or that someone you know the help they need. YOU are your own best advocate. No one else will ever be able to advocate for you - better than you, yourself, and YOU. Don’t wait for someone else to come along and save you… save yourself… just maybe by letting someone else save you. But anywhere you are, there is help. Get out there… it’s YOUR JOB to get out there... and FIND IT.*
While I both love and live in Jacksonville Beach, FL, there’s only one other town around I love just as very much…well, two towns actually - it’s where Atlantic Boulevard meets the ocean - it’s Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach… its Beaches Town Center. Beaches Town Center is all-encompassing of the downtown areas of both Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach. The two downtowns meet together for one, central, and grand downtown area on the Beaches - with Atlantic Beach to the north, and Neptune Beach to the south - and Atlantic Boulevard as the border line. It is there that the two towns touch and meet, becoming one. If you weren’t familiar with the area, you wouldn’t really even know that they are two separate towns. They really blend well aesthetically and flow and function nicely as one downton. And while the two towns share this single and lovely downtown, they share a whole lot more as well… including Christmas! Beaches Town Center comes together for one official Christmas tree area at the center of town, and just steps off the beach. Where Atlantic Boulevard ends and the ocean begins. At the roundabout. The trees - including evergreen, and palm, of course - are lit up beautifully. Signature candy cane stripes going up the trunks of the palms, with green tip lit leaves. And this year they added another evergreen to the display, having two total, one on each side of the palms. With a large red seating area, positioned perfectly for Santa Claus to sit, there is never a dull moment in the round-a-bout. With children and families both coming up to get their photo taken sitting in the enormous chair. Sometimes even a line of people waiting. And with the palm trees lit all up and down the sidewalks on 1st Street and beyond, in a rainbow of holiday colors, the setting is a beautiful, beachy holiday, instantly. If you find yourself in town, and checking out all things holiday while you’re here, there’s a few other not to be missed seasonal and very festive events which I highly recommend. Check out the St. Augustine Nights of Lights if you have time for a short drive. And be sure to visit Deck The Chairs, just one town south, in my very own Jax Beach. Deck The Chairs is free, it’s walk-through, and open to the public nightly through the end of the month. And only a couple miles south of Beaches Town Center, it’s a quick hop on over if you are out exploring all the lights and all the beautiful sights around Jacksonville. Our first Christmas living in Florida, back in 2017, we were browsing around Beaches Town Center. It was wonderful - we knew it would become an instant new tradition added to our list of holiday festivities. And while strolling through town that first Floridian holiday, we came upon One Ocean at the center of town, and decided we needed to check it out. We walked into their grand lobby, for the first time. Fountain in the center, just inside the door. Well, the inside is just gorgeous. And it turns out that every year, for Christmas and the entire holiday season, they put a large gingerbread house on display just off to the side in the lobby area. Naturally stumbling onto this find was so exciting. And it’s those finds, that I didn’t know about in advance of a visit somewhere, completely unplanned, and spur-of-the-moment, that are sometimes the very best moments. And we’ve been back every year. I’ve included photos of this year’s 2019 gingerbread house. And let me tell you, that lobby smelled of gingerbread - and smelled of heaven. It was fabulous to see, and to breathe in. It’s a quick stop in to check out, and puts one in the holiday spirit right away. The baked house is different every year, and all of it - the sign - the house itself, and all the details presented, reminded me immediately of my many travels to Walt Disney World at Christmastime and doing some Resort Hopping...checking out all the resort lobby gingerbread houses - each themed to that specific Disney resort. So I definitely recommend stopping in One Ocean on your Beaches Town Center holiday adventure. They’ve got a bar and restaurant on site too - it’s on the pricey side so we haven’t been there to eat just yet, but we have been to the lounge a few times and it’s just lovely. The ocean views are priceless. And a visit to Beaches Town Center is never, ever complete without a visit to Southern Grounds Coffee Shop. I love coffee almost as much as life itself. So we strolled on down to Southern Grounds to get a hot drink on a cool Florida evening. but to our surprise it was the one night ever that I’ve come across them closed. Usually open until 9pm, we went on a Monday night, and there was a sign on the door apologizing for the closure. They were out celebrating for the staff holiday party. No, I’m not complaining… the fact that we were so very sad that they were closed is only a compliment to them - as their shop simply rocks. So no Southern Grounds for us that particular evening, but soooo very glad for their employees that they had a night out away from work to celebrate. Beaches Town Center knows how to throw a Beachy Christmas… On a Monday night, or any night of the week. I’d highly recommend stopping by for a visit, short or long. Coffee or no coffee. It’s a wonderful sight, with a lot of wonderful lights. ~
The Beaches Green Market is a local farmer’s market in Neptune Beach, Florida. The market takes place every Saturday, year round, and is centrally located in the small beach town at Jarboe Park. Always from 2pm-5pm, it’s a fabulous place to pull over on a Saturday while out running errands, or to grab some bakery, maybe even flowers, to bring along to a gathering. If you’re out for your weekend grocery shopping, I’d recommend stopping here for fresh, local produce, before heading to the grocer for the rest of your needs. Some of the vendors tend to be the same each week, and yet there are always some different booths each time as well, or maybe even a food truck. There’s always a surprise or two each visit, which makes return visits likely and more enticing. Once you go to the Green Market - you tend to come back on the regular. In the past, we’ve purchased fresh and delicious produce, gifts for family, as well as some lovely seagrass scented candles from Eden’s Leaf Naturals; all depending on what our needs are for that week. This week, while we didn’t make any purchases, we still enjoyed the visit. And with the added bonus of the market being pet friendly, your dog can come along with you and enjoy the park afterward. With ample parking surrounding the entire large property, it’s an easy stop to add into your Saturday activities. And I was especially excited for this Saturday’s Market because I knew it was their official holiday market! There was jewelry for sale, coastal ornaments, and lots of reusable gift bags available for purchase. There was also a holiday craft table set up for children to make their own candles. And they even had a local band playing. Wearing red and white Santa hats… THIS was most definitely my favorite part! Beaches Green Market can be a quick stop, or a leisurely part of your weekend activities. Its location in Jarboe Park is a very popular local park in the Beaches community, and this setting allows the Market the perk of being surrounded by walking paths, a lovely maintained community garden, fountains, and tables and chairs for picnics. All under a clear blue and bright and sunny sky. Basketball courts and full sand volleyball courts are a nice addition as well. There also is a small, old, historic house on site, and children really like wandering up to it and explore. I noticed the old home was decorated for the holidays and looking quite adorable. And then I found out that’s where Santa and Mrs. Claus sit on the porch, to greet children and ask what the want for Christmas. The little house is just across from the Jarboe Park official decorated Christmas tree. I highly encourage an outing to the Beaches Green Market. It’s a great way to shop local - including always having a variety of local produce and other products available. I believe one of the real goals of any Farmer’s Market seems to be to help bring the local community together, and that’s exactly what this one does. So get on out to your market, look for Santa while you’re there, and be sure to bring along your list to give him. ~
On the second Tuesday of every month here in the small coastal town of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, local artists set up shop along First Street in downtown for the monthly Jax Beach Art Walk. This monthly Walk is actually one of the very many reasons my husband and I originally fell in love with our little beach town. It’s a small event, but a wonderful one. And we’ve always enjoyed seeing the unique pieces out on display. The event takes place from 5pm to 9pm; and I LOVE the December event the very best of them all... Because - Christmas - of course. It’s an absolutely LOVELY way to spend a Tuesday evening. We had an early dinner - well, we always eat dinner early now - not really many exceptions to that. With my very healthy lifestyle comes a very early dinner - no late night eating or snacking - ever. So after we dined and feasted upon our very healthy and delicious homemade Taco Tuesday entree, we ventured out and proceeded to slowly walk and browse through the entire length of downtown Jax Beach. And while the Jax Beach Art Walk takes place in the darkness of the night sky during this exciting and festive time of year, this December event it was not so dark after all while walking through the streets and past all the various shops and restaurants. During the summer months, while the artists are still out at their booths as usual until 9pm, the sun is out nearly just as late to light the way. But during these Walks occurring during the cooler winter season, a stroll through the Art Walk in the dark is met by many kinds of unique ways artists try to light up their booths and displays. Lots of rope lights, holiday lights, twinkle lights, led candles, and icicle lights, etc. And let’s not forget all the iPhone flashlights showcasing lots of art while glancing up close. With the darkness of the December Art Walk, always comes these simple yet fun lighting displays. And as a lovely added bonus, along with the beautiful sunset this Tuesday, we also had a breathtaking moon following us above in the night sky. Keeping watch over our quaint little town and providing additional light for shoppers and diners and tourists. I met an artist who was selling at a large table set up with all kinds of various shaped little topiaries. The topiaries themselves were each lit with tiny, miniature pixie lights set as Christmas lights. He pointed to one of the topiaries for me and I noticed it was an AT-AT holiday topiary... That’s an All Terrain Armored Transport Star Wars vehicle topiary decorated for the holiday’s… but of course. I was very amused, it was adorable. And all the various creativity on display such as this was quite inspiring. And then at the very center of town, sitting proudly on display for all, sits the Deck The Chairs holiday lights adventure. The Chairs were definitely all decked out in their holiday finest for the occasion, and many artists and shoppers commingled amongst all the exciting holiday festivities taking place. Lots of people were out to check out both the Chairs, as well as the Art Walk, so I highly recommend the December Walk if you are short on time and want to see two things at once. I made one purchase that evening - a rose gold hematite ring from Artist Olivia Shore, who can be found at @livshoreart online. I haven't been able to wear my wedding rings in well over a year or really actually much longer now, as since my massive weight loss the rings no longer fit - and are quite pricey to be resized down. Someday I will get around to it though. So lately, and especially desiring some rings to wear, I’ve been very inspired by all the local artists selling various types of rings for some very reasonable prices. And the price from Olivia was definitely right for me. She was offering this ring for $12.00. But she mentioned that since I was buying directly from her and not from the shops she sells her merchandise in, she brought the price down to $7.00. Always happy to support an artist, but I cannot deny, mostly quite happy for the new jewelry too. Most of the artists on the Walk sell in lots of local shops throughout town or the greater Jacksonville area. So as an added bonus to Art Walk patrons, if you purchase directly from the artist, instead of through their shops outside of this event, they tend to offer decreased pricing. This was offered to me without my asking… they simply offer better deals at the walk and state as much. So get on out to the next Art Walk, and support your local artists directly. But - still go to the shops as well, as they are magnificent in their very own and lovely ways of course. I saw lots and lots of beautiful homemade Christmas ornaments for sale, delicate and burnt glass, some for only $3.00 a piece, lots of holiday paintings with lovely winter scenery, and tons of other unique and fun holiday decor. I especially loved the table selling the copper shaped coastal creations and was very tempted to make a purchase. I have a spot in my kitchen absolutely perfect for one of those pieces, and I love copper. They were all pretty expensive for me though so I held back and simply admired the pieces from afar. Any of the art being offered at the monthly Walk would make a fabulous holiday gift. If you are still doing your shopping, and missed out on the Art Walk, consider one of the few remaining local upcoming holiday markets: including the Beaches Green Market, taking place at Jarboe Park in Neptune Beach this Saturday from 2-5pm, as well as the mid-week Atlantic Beach Holiday Market next week on Wednesday, December 18th from 3pm-6pm at Bull Memorial Park. You’ll be supporting local creativity, and getting your shopping done all at once. Overall, any day - or evening - strolling up and down through town is a fabulous outing indeed. The moonlit sky, the sound of the rough and choppy, high surf from that next windy and wild Nor’easter that we experienced this week, including the holiday lights of Deck The Chairs, the art on display of all kinds, shapes, and sizes, talking with everyone, it’s all a fabulous and peaceful way to end a day along the coast. Even if you don’t buy a thing, still get out there and check out all the beauty on display, and don't forget to look up at that moon, lighting and guiding your way through our amazing world. ~
What a most lovely of lovely and long, holiday weekends. Everywhere we went, everything we did, everything we saw, was surrounded by the feeling of Christmas in the air. And while I am one who does not partake in the Black Friday festivities that so many Amerian’s do count as part of their holiday traditions - because, as one of my friends posted on her Facebook that day with what I deem to be the utmost accurate declaration ever regarding the day that is so very Black: “It’s too PEOPLY out there!” Yes. In fact, besides the accuracy of that comment, it also might have been the funniest thing I read in a very long time. My concurrence with that statement led me to be busy doing many other fun and festive things - instead of shopping. Black Friday came and went for us, without purchase of any material goods. A most wise decision if I do say so myself. I have no interest in waiting in long lines for something that I can purchase any other day of the year, without such a line. Free snow globe included? No thank you; not worth it. Instead - we went to Jimmy Johns. How simple and basic and quite boring of an outing indeed. And boring was just what we were looking for. I decided that any store that would most likely have the biggest crowds and the most ridiculous lines would be all the ones we would skip… And that most restaurants would also most likely be quite busy - due to needing to feed food to hungry shoppers - so those would all be the restaurants we would skip as well. That eliminated basically everywhere on the face of the planet from my list… Where would be open - but completely and utterly EMPTY??? Jimmy Johns! And guess what? I was right. We drove our car into the parking lot. Not a car around. We walked in. We were their only customers. It was fabulous. We ate at the window counter, bar style seating, as we always do. I’m a regular there. And we watched the traffic go on by up and down Beach Boulevard. Slowly. Yes, it was crowded out there, even in our flat and sandy and salty little corner of the world. But not so at Jimmy’s place. In fact, it was so slow inside Jimmy Johns, as we listened to tunes blaring from their speaker with today’s best hits - i.e. music of this very own decade we are currently living in. I mention this because almost everywhere else plays music from the 80’s? Why? Universe… why? Yes, it was so slow the staff member said something along the lines of, I knew it was going to be slow today, but jeazzzz…. I never imagined it being this slow. Yes, we picked the most perfect place to eat a sandwich in the entire United States of America on Black Friday. I tended to be of the opinion that not many American’s have an interest in lining up outside the front doors of a sandwich shop at four in the morning, fighting to get in when the doors are opened, just to buy some deli meat? My opinion tended to be correct, at least from where we sat. No, they were out buying expensive and fancy and enormous TVs, and iPads, and clothing, and more clothing, and appliances, and more appliances. Everything I didn’t feel like waiting in a line for on this Black day. Yes, we made a great decision. It was a simple and pleasant and peaceful outing. Next time you’re looking for a quick - and healthy - lunch on Black Friday, stop in Jimmy Johns, and avoid the crowded everywhere else of this world. Right next door to Jimmy Johns and across the small and narrow street, I could see from the window we were watching the world go by from… Is a place called Rockaway. A greenhouse.. A garden center... A Christmas tree lot. We go to Jimmy John’s a lot. We see Rockaway a lot, sitting from the window of the sandwich shop. I had never ventured over there to date however. But that blackest of clear blue sky days was different from any other. Something told me that day was the day to visit. I tend to think my nose told me it was time. We witnessed car after car pulling up and loading one live tree after another onto the roofs of their vehicles. I had always wanted to venture over there and check it out. They were busy, yes, but they were not busy at all compared to the big box stores everywhere else in the nation. We finished our simple lunch and walked across the street to the greenhouse. Instantly! - I smelled Christmas! If you’ve never smelled yourself some Christmas before, I highly recommend finding some, and put it up to your nose, and smell it. I could smell the scent of pine and balsam and fraser fir from the road. And the scent only intensified as we got closer and walked into the garden, feet on top of gravel, dirt, and pebbles. I was in a dream. I had found a slice of heaven. I wanted to bottle it all up, take it home, and keep it forever. Never out of my sight - or away from my nose - again. We walked through the entire greenhouse and its property. It’s quite a large place! From the exterior, it appears that Rockaway is just a small, single story red farmhouse. A small house, with a vast plot of land surrounding it, all surrounded with various greenery for sale. But once you traverse inside its quarters, it’s quite larger than its tiny exterior makes it out to be. I was immediately met with rows and rows of flowers of all kinds. Grasses of all kinds. Greenery of all kinds. Ceramic pots and wall trinkets and other such decor for sale intermixed. But I went there for the Christmas. So the Christmas I was going to find. Never fear, my nose led the way. My nose led me to the far back area of the greenhouse. You know, it’s just like when you need a dozen eggs or gallon of milk or tub of chocolate ice cream from the grocer… The simplest and most basic and most necessary of items needed at the time, they always put in the back of the store. Silly us, they think we don’t know what they’re doing… It’s all strategic? In order to get to that gallon of milk, that dozen eggs, those tubs of chocolatey and icy goodness, we all have to traverse past every other item in the store first in order to find our basic essentials in life. To get to all the good stuff, you have to pass up anything else that might tempt your eyes. Ohh, I need that bag of chips. I really could use a loaf of bread… since I’m here. Are we out of juice at home? We better grab some bananas... while we’re at it. And toilet paper. We can’t forget that, heaven forbid. Yes, it’s Black Friday every day at the grocer. They always know how to make a sale. Have you ever seen anyone leave a grocer empty-handed? Certainly not in my lifetime?! Just put that toilet paper display out prominently on the end cap, where it can’t be missed, slap a yellow sign over it referencing something along the lines of a sale… or even better… 12 = 36… ???... and we’re gold. Jack Pot. Hence again, why would I ever shop on Black Friday? When I’m buying all that bread and all those eggs and all those tubs of ice cream, and carts loaded FULL of rolls upon rolls of toilet paper, on sale, every other day of the year, anyway? So my nose led me all the way to the back of the greenhouse. I was met with the most intense fragrance of Christmas. It was naturally the most fragrant standing amongst all the various trees for sale. And I never wanted to leave. Maybe my husband would have to drag me out of there kicking and screaming all the way? Ha - maybe I am ready for Black Friday… Fighting for a chance - screaming to be the one. Can I stay here forever? And never part with the dreamy aroma surrounding me. Can I win the prize? Where are all the doorbusters? I’m NOT going home. We checked out all the trees. Standing there, I immediately imagined myself in Michigan. Years and years ago. Happy memories; very happy memories. I was quite young, so the memories are somewhat fuzzy. But there I stood; on a Christmas tree farm. With all the family - moms and dads, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. We took a hay ride (don’t remember if pulled by horse, but my dreams say yes, there were horses present). The ride took us out onto the farm, to pick out our very own living tree. It was beautiful. It was farm country. It was quiet. It was peaceful. Nature everywhere. It was the best day. It was Pure Michigan. Looking back, I’m so grateful for my family. All the things we did growing up. All those memories. It doesn’t matter if I can’t remember if it was horses who dragged me out to the tree farm or not. Maybe a tractor was pulling us? Either way, I know I was there. I know I was with my entire family. I am grateful for the time we all spent together. I am grateful for that outing. A lovely outing, that I can remember all these years later. I’m grateful that they, as adults, spent their time, with us, very young children. So that we could have these memories, as adults, today. I’m grateful and thankful… So much so that as I stood in a small red farmhouse barn, far removed from the farm country of Michigan, three blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, in sunny and hot coastal Florida, on San Pablo Island, in Jacksonville Beach, kiddy corner from Jimmy John’s and opposite the local Publix, living a completely different life, and after meeting God himself, on Black Friday, in Rockaway Gardens... roughly thirty years after that family Christmas tree outing, standing there within and amongst that dreamy scent of Christmas… which evoked such happy memories of my Christmas’s past. Only because of that past am I standing right there, right then. Only because of that past, am I capable of smelling Christmas in the air, right there, right then, and with that scent also evoke all those happy memories. We toured the entire greenhouse, inside, and out. We saw various styles of holiday wreaths and swags. The swags are my favorite. Oh wait, scratch that. The wreaths shaped into candy canes are my favorite. Oh wait… Never mind. I can’t make up my mind. If it’s green, smells of pine, balsam, fir, is reminiscent of Christmas - that one is my favorite. What did you say? You asked if I particularly like the Hallmark Channel this time of year? Yes, I’m a fan. We still don’t have cable, or streaming, though. I can dream. We turned a corner and were met face to face with an entire room of poinsettias. Just poinsettias. All looking very poinsettia-like. White and red. And one type I never before saw in my entire life. A white, red, and pinkish, mixed and beautifully blended color poinsettia. I love that one the most. Oh, wait. I thought of my grandma right then, in that room. Every Christmas she was alive and I knew her, she always gave everyone a poinsettia. I was given one when I still lived at home with my family growing up. I put it on my dresser in my bedroom. I got married, and hubby and I were given a poinsettia each Christmas. We were also given more poinsettias to pass on to others for her. She’s been gone for some years now already. Time does fly. But I can’t see a poinsettia, without seeing Grandma. Moving on, there was an entire area of succulents. Orange trees. Lime trees. Palms. Etc. If it was alive and growing, and taking our carbon dioxide away from our lungs, it was at Rockaway. And since we were in Florida. And since it was hot outside. Most all of these beauties were all just sitting there soaking in the outdoor sun. Some in the actual greenhouse, some under netting. But mostly, I toured and browsed and strolled through a beautiful outdoor piece of winding garden property; a garden much larger than I expected. After thirty some years of Christmas’s up in the Chicago area, my brain still has a difficult time grasping and understanding the concept that I am still outside, wearing flip flops, shorts and tank, big sunglasses, hot and sweaty, and it’s Christmas time? Where’s the snow?! I’m not complaining though. We were nearing the end of our tour. Our informal browsing. We came upon tables set for an upcoming event. I wondered what was going on? There were drink cups out. Many. They were expecting lots of people. At some point in the very near future? Table clothes spread and draped over the tables. Something was happening? I looked up. At the clear blue sky. At the bright and blinding hot sun. I saw the dark evergreen cloud in the sky from the corner of my eye…. Wait. There were no dark green clouds on such a clear blue sky day. My fuzzy vision faded in and out from the bright sun laser-beaming into my eyes. I was looking up at a large Christmas tree - on the rooftop! Yes, they put a tree up on the roof. I could tell it had lights strung all about it. My memory snapped to attention. I knew what was going on! They were setting up for a party. Rockaway has their own tree lighting, each year… a tree, up on the roof! How cute. Oh rats! We went there during the day! Not at night. We could always come back that evening to see the festivities. Oh wait. Maybe it would be too peoply out there. It was still Black Friday after all. I wasn’t supposed to be out shopping today. I was just out to grab a number sixteen with no mayo and a cup of unsweetened iced tea at Jimmy Johns... I lost 86 pounds eating that exact sandwich - roughly once a week. It was my weekly “carb” treat. No I did not do a carb-restricted diet to lose the weight. I ate everything, in moderation. But I do tend to consider white bread a treat, so I only ate it about once a week. And somehow throughout my weight loss journey that has since turned into weight maintenance, I started going to Jimmy John’s once a week... You could say my nose led me there. Not out of routine, not out of desperation or a feeling as if because I lost the weight eating Jimmy’s sandwiches then I must keep doing it to keep the weight off? Not that at all. I just like it. That’s all. Someday I might tire of good ol’ Jimmy, but not yet. To be fair, it is kind of hard to tire of fresh white dough raised into fresh white perfect bread. So yeah, we were out for lunch. We were NOT out to witness a tree lighting. Box shaped stores, or anything else that day. It was the dreamy scent of Christmas that led me to Rockaway. But it was also the thoughts and dreams of my own Christmas which told me to now go home. After all, it was Black Friday. Yes, it definitely was very peoply out there. I’ll go home and put an ol’ Yule Log… on the ol’ You Tube, and trim my own tree. No, I didn’t buy anything at Rockaway that day. Pennies are tight sometimes. Pennies are watched. I do consider myself a professional shopper and there were many things I wanted to buy there, including swags and candy cane wreaths and poinsettias galore, but I resisted all temptation... I reminded myself that after losing 86 freaking pounds, my wardrobe is still a cluster of nothing that fits me because it was long ago donated to charity, and what remains are only a few quite simple repeating new and fresh outfits that do now fit. I’ll save all the pennies I can for new clothes. 86 pounds of work reminded me I’d rather buy clothes that last a long longer and will come in very handy for me, than a piece of clipped greenery that will surely die by season’s end. So all purchasing temptations were managed! ‘Tis a rare day indeed for such a pro of a shopper! But I didn’t leave Rockaway empty-handed. No. The scent of Christmas came home with me. It was all over my hands, inside my very light and empty and missing shopping bags, steamed into my wild hair, and mostly, it was in my nose. In fact, the scent was so strong, I still smelled it on me and on all those new clothes that I had been wearing, later that evening when I got ready for bed. Yes, it’s very important to surround oneself with such a magnificent and dreamy scent. Don’t let this beautiful and festive and happy and difficult and challenging and magical season go by without smelling some Christmas into your nose. Don’t waste a moment to catch a breath of fresh pine-scented air. Whether you are standing on a vast and beautiful and picturesque farm up in Michigan cutting down a green tree for your living room, or standing on a coastal barrier island in the south while eating a number sixteen with no mayo… be sure to breathe it all in. Remember all the good times and all the good people in your life that come into your brain when you inhale that special aroma. Then - bottle it up, keep it forever, store it somewhere special where you keep all your treasures, and never remember where you put it. ~
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March 2024
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