Merry Christmas, Everyone!

 Our beautiful  "White Christmas" has been washed away and we're left with not a pretty "Green Christmas" but a muddy, wet, soggy "Brown Christmas" and temperatures nearing 60 degrees. So what did we expect? Really? It's 2020!! Who would imagine that Christmas this year would be anything but a disappointment in so many ways? We're isolated from loved ones except for select "pods" we know are safe; the weather has consistently dealt curious and often crushing surprises throughout the nation; leadership on the national level is a disaster and our "leader" is acting like a petulant, spoiled-rotten child while the people he should be protecting are dying by the thousands, standing in food lines to receive  something to feed their families, or are wondering how they can pay their rent when their jobs have vanished under Covid-19 restrictions. Would you ever have thought our nation would be in this kind of predicament? I certainly never did. 

I think there's a light ahead for us, but I have a hard time wrapping my mind around what is happening right now. Here in Vermont, we have good, strong leadership and we're grateful for that. It's nice to know our government has the best interest of the people foremost in mind rather than personal gain when making decisions. We're like an oasis in a desert of disaster, but that doesn't mean we aren't feeling the results of all this chaos around us in many ways. A lot of us are alone today, and that's ok. I feel good about making that sacrifice because I know it will help keep my family (and me) safe. I'm a grownup - I understand these things. I also understand that life will likely never be quite the same, but we are a resilient bunch here in the North Country and we'll adapt to doing whatever it takes to get back a lifestyle we can enjoy, with the people we love and appreciate.

So, although this isn't the picturesque White Christmas Day we thought we were headed for a week ago, it's still a day to reflect, celebrate our faith and reach out to others in whatever way we can safely. I've had more goodies delivered to my doorstep by dear friends this year than ever before - perhaps partly because this year I'm really  alone, having lost Fred; and it's been comforting to know our friends are thinking of me during this holiday. Fred had a sweet tooth and I'm happy to honor his memory by appreciating how good these cookies and candies are. So thank you, each and every one, for the goodies, the phone calls and the emails. I appreciate staying connected in that way and look forward to a time when we can celebrate properly, hopefully very soon.

These are before and after pictures taken from my livingroom window - the first was how it looked a couple days ago and the second one was taken this morning. Bah, humbug!