Dreary Weather, No Snow

I was sad to see the news that longtime JPA member and resident of West Danville, Doug Button, passed away last Saturday, December 3, 2022. I was unaware he had been in a nursing home in Whitefield, NH for some time. Doug worked at Hastings Store a few years ago, and Fred and I got to know him pretty well. He was always smiling and very pleasant. Doug and his wife, Margaret, were very athletic and he talked enthusiastically about their trips and always seemed to be full of energy. His obituary is in today's Caledonian Record. If you wish to send condolences to Margaret, her address is PO Box 132, West Danville, VT 05873. I extend my sincere sympathy to Margaret and their three children, Keith and Martha Button of Hampton, NH; Karen and husband David Pastula, of West Danville; and Christine and husband Gerard Marciano, of Tarrytown, NY; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Doug will be missed by his family and by many friends locally and in the Joe's Pond community.

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We are patiently waiting for rain today. The temperature is abnormally high for this time of year -  I'm seeing 41.6F at the moment. According to the forecast, we will have rain later today into tomorrow, then it will clear and get a bit cooler - but no appreciable snow in the forecast. We would probably all like to see a white Christmas, but on the other hand, if we don't have any snow, we won't be troubled with plowing or shoveling it, and the roads should be fine for traveling. That said, there are still 18 days before Christmas -- YES, we are that close! The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is always the shortest four weeks of the year. 

My family will be scattered this year, so plans for Christmas are still up in the air. Years ago we always celebrated three Christmases. The first was on Christmas Eve, when we came to Grandma and Grandpa Bolton's in Cabot; then Christmas morning we had our own tree and opened presents together; then everyone got dressed up for yet a third celebration and walked down the street for presents and dinner with Grandparents Dimick. As years went by, our family dynamics changed. The boys' dad and his parents passed away, and in due time, all three boys married and my parents both died. We managed to hold onto our tradition of Christmas Eve together, alternating hosts each year; and that freed each one to spend Christmas Day with his wife's family. 

Covid and the loss of more family members changed those plans, of course. Our ranks have been further reduced - we've lost Hazy, Marie and Theresa's step-father, and Fred, the boy's step father; and of course, for the past two years, gathering the whole family together simply didn't happen. I'll admit I was looking forward to the possibility that everyone could together this year, especially since Grandma Floriana is visiting from Namibia. But JoAnn is living in Texas and cannot get home, and she hasn't seen her Grandma Floriana for perhaps four years, so they need some time together. Floriana loves to travel and this will give her an opportunity to not only be with her granddaughter for a few days, but she will see some of Texas, as well. It will be wonderful for them. Those of us here in Vermont are fortunate to be able to get together at random times throughout the year, and although our Christmas Eve tradition was nice while it lasted, the spirit of the season doesn't depend on keeping that tradition alive.

This photo was taken in 2011 when Floriana was last here for Christmas. At the far back, sitting on the stairs, is Marie and Jamie. Standing from left to right, Bob, Theresa, Fred, Bill; sitting in front of Jamie and Marie is Floriana and me, then JoAnn, and Monika holding Tangeni. We were at Bob's house in St. Johnsbury that year.

I'm happy with whatever we decide to do. It will still be a Merry Christmas!