It's all in the outlook

Others see a battered little thrift store Christmas decoration with a coastal flair and chuckle when I say it's my complete decoration this year. I see past holidays where decorations crafted by tiny hands had the favored places on the six-foot tree harvested by hand. I see the cardboard fireplace that had to be reassembled every year, resulting in the air turning decidedly blue over Dads' head. I see five heads on pillows, eyes tightly closed, hoping Santa read their letters-believes their promises that they were good all year-and just in case-will be better next year. I gaze with wonder of how in heck did I get to this place and how is it possible to miss chaos so much?

My little condo neat as a pin, silent as falling snow, no toddler laughter, no arguments about all the same-colored bulbs hanging together, no dogs knocking stuff off the tree with one swipe of a huge tail.

BUTTTTT....I am blessed to have most of my family close enough that I can step into their front door, be accosted by several large dogs, mediate several arguments, read a funny book to a four-year-old just to hear him laugh, share cider, donuts and commiserations on lifes unfairness with a minimum of four teens not otherwise occupied.

THEN GO HOME TO MY SILENT LITTLE GRAMMY CAVE AND TAKE A NAP!