A CHRISTMAS THOUGHT
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: December 12, 2009
While glancing through a deluge of magazine and newspaper ads, circulars,catalogs, pamphlets, you name it, I noticed that there is one single big item missing . While they lure you with bargains, seen and unseen, they laud family gatherings, banquets, parties, feasts, but they fail to mention why we are celebrating this Christmas Season.
Did they ever hear of the birth of the baby Jesus, born in a manger, in Bethlehem. Did they know that the very first gifts of this celebration were given to him, born the King of Kings? Three Wise Men from the East followed a star which guided them to the lowly birthplace where shepherds stood guard, and the animals gathered around to give him warmth. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and bowed before him.
Where did we lose sight of this? It cannot possibly be only the fault of the merchants, they are, after all, in the business to sell their products and make money. Most of the fault has to be with us humans who have placed material gains above all else.
I remember growing up, and being very content with my one gift from my parents, it was all we had, and we knew of no other families who had more. Emphasis was placed on the religious nature of the special day, with posadas being held at the different neighborhood houses. Us children would go from door to door, singing and begging for a place to stay, and being rejected by all, until the last home where the door was opened, and a party was held. This was the re-enacting of Joseph and Mary’s trip, seeking shelter for the immediate birth of the baby Jesus.
Most families would celebrate the 6th of January, the feast of the Three Kings, to give their children the gifts that the Magi’s had left. In our family we had Santa Claus leave our gift, and we went to church to pray and give thanks for what we had.
With the advent of computers, it is now possible to order items, and have no further contact with the recipient. In my time, we had lay-a-way, and I remember going with my mother to diligently pay weekly on whatever she had purchased. I believe this form of buying has gone with the way of the dinosaurs.
Perhaps this is progress, but I wish we could go back in time when life was not as fast, and people took the time to talk with one another. At a recent family gathering, I had two children texting each other across the room; has oral speech also gone the way of the dodo? If you have read any of those messages, you will wonder where the proper spelling of words has gone.
Maybe I’m showing my age, but this celebration seemed so much meaningful; when we looked forward to it without having it shoved down our throats even before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The baby Jesus did not need a grand hospital to be born; he came to earth as a humble human being, born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Maybe we should take a second look at our celebrations and remember that He is the reason for the Season.
Feliz Navidad
Hasta la Vista
A THANKFUL THANKSGIVING AND A NEW BEGINNING
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: December 1, 2009
The house has returned to normal, quiet, peaceful, and lonely, after the visit from my children for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The refrigerator has returned from overload, the washing machine has issued a huge sigh of relief from all the laundry, and the dishwasher is again empty. Having fifteen additional people from the usual one in the house is certainly different.
The turkey this year was prepared by my two daughters, who learned the stuffing secret from their Dad. This was passed on through generations, having been related to him by his mother. I can truly say that they were very good pupils, and their Dad was surely smiling from heaven at the results. I know we all enjoyed the fruits of their labor.
My pooch and I are back to our routine, with no Scrabble tournaments to participate in, no Poker Games to bicker over as to which hand actually won, no shopping sprees to improve the local economy, and no casinos to attend by myself.
HOW BORING!
The visiting poochs got along fine with mine, after about an hour of suspiciously viewing and growling at each other. Then they went into a full playful mode, and we had no problems, other then being constantly delighted by their antics. They are, after all, kissing cousins.
My offspring missed the second snowfall of the season here in Ruidoso, as it began snowing Sunday morning, after they had left. If it wasn’t for the fact that they had to drive back to Dallas and El Paso, I would have liked for them to remain and enjoy the beautiful scenes that a snowfall creates. Everything is pristine in its whiteness, and if ever there was an ugly sight, it was quietly covered and removed by the white gold.
Ski Apache officially opened its season on Thanksgiving Day, but the snow was man made. After the weather reports started arriving, we realized that the skiers had missed the best part; but we know they will return, just as surely as the swallows return to Capristano every year, the snow enthusiasts will be back.
The Village has already been decorated for the coming Christmas Season, with all the shops lit in white, and the street lamp posts twined with silver. It is a charming scene, worthy of any Thomas Kincaid painting. I enjoy driving through at night, when the shops have closed and the streets are deserted. This does not happen as often as I would like, because I do not go out at night by myself, for many reasons, the major one being that my hubby and I often rode through the village thusly , and somehow, it just isn’t the same.
I had mentioned to my kids that I probably would not be putting up a tree this year, for the first time in 58 years, my soul still deeply mourning my beloved. When I walked into the living room, there was the tree, and all my children busy with the decorations. I felt my spirits lifting, and when my daughter brought out the village which was my hubby’s pride and joy, I could not hold back the tears. My daughters and I held each other and cried, and my sons and sons-in law, stood around helplessly, until they decided maybe a hug would be welcomed. I love them all dearly.
I hope that your Thanksgiving Day was as full as mine, and that all of us raised up our eyes and voices to heaven and gave thanks for our many blessings.
Hasta la Vista
RETURN HOME
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: November 20, 2009
I journeyed back today from my visit to our children in Dallas. The time passes so swiftly, I can hardly believe a week has gone by.
This is the norm, the days pass by so slowly when you are looking forward to that trip, and they fly by when you are actually at your destination and enjoying the assorted family members surrounding you.
We spend the majority of the time talking, laughing, remembering, and sometimes crying. As the holidays approach, we look forward to them with some trepidation. This will be the first holiday season without my beloved. To them it will be the first without their father, and grandfather. He was so enthusiastic about everything that pertained to this time, that he infused it to everyone.
We will change a few things about the celebration, having decided to draw names this year for the first time in our history; I can say in half a century, since he and I were married fifty eight years. We always did the shopping together, he carrying the packages and giving his nod of approval for whatever I chose. His expertise was with the manly things, the girly ones he usually left to me.
This Thanksgiving we will all be together, except for my granddaughter who lives in New York, and a grandson who cannot bear to leave his dog in a kennel. I told him if I didn’t have three dogs already invited to the feast, I would tell him to bring his Maddie, but she is much larger than the other three pooches and I can foresee problems. People who are not dog lovers will wonder at his decision to not come, but I completely understand; I have been a dog person for years.
So, I look forward to their coming and to our time together. They always love Ruidoso, and cannot bear the thought that one day I may have to sell the house and leave, but Father Time has a way of diminishing mere mortals, and I am a realist. I will have to move closer to where I have more family and medical support, although my son who lives here tells me he would take care of me by himself, but I would not tie him down to an ailing mother, he still has his own life to live.
Hopefully that will be in the future, relegated to “some day”. My health is good, and I am slowly but surely learning to live again.
Hasta la Vista
TWO FRUITFUL WEEKS
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: November 9, 2009
For the first time in nine months, since I became a widow, I actually used a calendar for my schedule.
The months behind me were empty, just as my heart was. There was no joy in my daily life, just drudging steps taken to make the day disappear. I was startled to see Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas ads making their appearances; they just seemed to tumble together.
In our family, the majority of birthdays, anniversaries, etc. fall during this season, and it seems that we are left breathless until the new year.
To say there is joy in my heart now is going a bit far, but I do have the flutterings and beginnings of it. All my children are coming to celebrate Thanksgiving, something that has become a tradition, since my hubby loved to cook that big bird for the day, and we, in turn, loved to eat it.
With some trepidation, my children asked if I was up to continuing with their coming. One of my sons even offered to have the turkey at his house. I thought about it seriously, and decided that we should continue to observe the day as we had for so many years, for as long as we could, remembering that he loved to have everyone around us for that day, and for his birthday that followed.
It also happens that we used to celebrate three birthdays at the same time, his, our daughter’s, and one of our son-in-law’s.
We agreed to continue the tradition without the birthdays. One son in law is turning 60 this year, so I will be journeying to Dallas for that big day. This is when my calendar use came in; there are several occasions with different days where I will have to be present.
Please let me brag on something that made my day. I was attending a meeting and mentioned the trip to Dallas and the occasion for it; one young lady commented on the fact that I did not look old enough to have a 60 year old son in law! I took it as a big compliment, and beamed for the remainder of the meeting.
On my list of things to do I also have a brunch at one of the local casinos, and I invited a gal from my Democratic Party to attend with me. She does not drive or gamble, but does eat, and she readily agreed. I hope we win one of the big prizes.
The day after that feast, I will be leaving for Dallas for a one week stay. After returning, I hurry back home to take care of a couple of things, then drive to El Paso three days later to house and dog sit at my son’s. When they come back, I will journey home, carrying the bird with me, to begin preparations for the big day. One daughter will be here the following day, and the rest of the clan will follow shortly.
I wish the rest of my life was as busy.
Feliz Dia de Gracias
Hasta la Vista
WINTER WONDERLAND
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: October 30, 2009
It finally arrived!
After weeks of snow warnings, we awoke this morning to a beautiful white, pristine, winter wonderland.
Not that we got that much, but at my house, it covered the lawn, the parking lot, my car, and all surrounding areas. It snowed almost all day yesterday, but very slow, almost grudgingly, as if Mother Nature was still not sure about it. I estimate about two inches of the white gold dropped, albeit, unwillingly. If my hubby was still living, he would be faxing our children the great message, “ITS SNOWING!”. He kept such a message close by the fax machine, almost as if he was urging it to happen. He loved the snow and would go out, as soon as he was able, to take pictures. God, how I miss him.
Ski Apache, our ski resort, received at least 15 inches, and the skiers must be shouting for joy; I know the merchants of the town are doing just that.
Viewing the weather report, northern New Mexico received more than their share, at least two feet were estimated to fall in some areas.
As for myself, I loaded up on books. My sister and I have a lending library between ourselves, where we exchange books as we read them. On her last visit she brought me a bag full, so I have plenty to keep me entertained.
My pooch does not like the snow, and keeps trying not to go out. I have to open the door, and push him out, before he has a chance to retreat. Once out, he will run out, do his business and return as quickly as possible, to lay in front of the fireplace; “Ah, this is the life, he comments”, in doggy body language.
My physical therapist discharged me this week, so I get to do all the exercises at home. He gave me three rubberized strips which I am to use. It took a little bit of time for me to figure out how to do this, I tied one to the leg of my bed, the other to the bedroom door, and kept the third to use inventfully. I put this over the door, and use it for my arm exercises; because they are rubberized, I pull against them and really feel it. If I am snowbound for more than two days, I will develop arm and leg muscles to put athletes to shame!
It is 7:00 in the morning as I am writing this, and dark as Hades. I hope the sun comes out soon.
BRR– Hasta la Vista
IRRITATED AND FRUSTRATED ME
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: October 22, 2009
Well, this week has been an unusual one to say the least. I always have a peaceful, serene, uninterrupted, quiet peace of heaven around my house. Not this past week.
It began by having two huge trucks parked halfway across my driveway. They were from a local long distance company fixing what I believe to be their cable box. Not even a humble, if snide, comment to ask my permission to block my driveway while they worked. No, they just took it as part of their sovereignty and rights to do as they pleased. I dressed in a hurry to go out and give them a piece of my mind, but when I got out there, they had left, leaving a big hole in the ground. I figured they would be back, and I would confront them at that time.
Well, it so happened I was away whey they came and finished the job ( or so their job description says). They left a large ridge which would allow the run off water to go straight into my yard.
I was fuming, as this had happened a couple of years ago and I could not get any satisfaction from any office I contacted. Finally, I called the local street department, and they listened to me. Their solution was to erect a rather large “speed bump” to allow the water to run straight down the street. This was erected directly in front of my driveway.
I can live with that speed bump, however visitors who have not experienced the jolt while going over it, still complain to me about it. It sort of juggles their lunch.
It rained quite heavily last night, and guess what? The water ran straight into my yard. Knowing better than to contact the company (as these things are not their fault), I went out and reconstructed the dam I had built before. I am hopeful that it will again divert the water down the street.
You think my problems were over? Of course not, you know the old saying, when it doesn’t rain, it pours?
The house across the street from me has been put up for sale. Two large SUV’s were parked in their driveway over the weekend, and I could see a lot of activity. They were changing out the water heater. I was not peeking, but every time I looked out, some more things had been put in the driveway. I assumed, as most of us villagers do, that large construction waste has to be carried to the dump. Well, let me tell you, the cars had white license plates with a big star on them, and we know where they came from.
Monday morning I went out to empty the trash, and lo and behold, two LARGE old water heaters were next to the dumpster in front of my property. Of course, no white licensed cars were in evidence, they had fled the scene.
I called the local waste department and reported the deed. They were most helpful, and that morning sent out a truck to take away the horrible eyesores. I wanted to have them report this to the real estate company which is selling the house, but they told me that I did the right thing in calling them, because otherwise nothing would have been done.
Since I felt like hitting someone, I took my ire out by pelting out this story on my blog.
There, I feel much better now. Isn’t the message on the sign below ironic? Just let Texans mess with you!
Hasta la vista
WEARY TRAVELER
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: October 14, 2009
I returned home today after a week and a half of traveling. I spiraled off to Dallas and surrounding areas to visit my daughters and son who live there.
My trip had a double purpose, seeing them, and house and dog sitting. I enjoyed both tremendously. The pooches are a couple of six month old Westies, just as cute as they can be. They are brothers from the same litter, so of course they had to have appropriate names. After much thought and debate, their names became Niles and Frazier (as from the old Frazier television show).
They are very playful, and thank goodness , they are finally house broken. As siblings go, they also have quarrels which can become quite noisy. They learned quickly when grandma said “Stop” they were to end the barking and snarling. Oh, and grandma also likes to read, so they are not to climb up on her lap or demand petting while she is thus occupied. Its not very different from teaching your children the rights and wrongs of living. Stern warnings usually accomplish the task.
I was not prepared for the weather there. I had been told it was in the 80’s, so I took summer clothing. When I arrived, a big storm hit, including tornado warnings, and the weather turned cold. I borrowed my son-in-law’s warm sweat tops, and lived in them for a while.
As usual on my visits, all the family hangs out together, and we celebrated one grandson’s and daughter- in- laws birthdays with a lot of joking and laughing. I did have a moment in the bedroom I occupied; one of my beloved’s Greek sailor hats that he wore constantly was on display. It took that glance to bring on the tears; I can’t help it, they come unexpected and unannounced.
My pooch and I were happy to return home, and begin our lives again. The weather had turned colder, and we have the glorious golds and reds on the trees surrounding our village. Fall is here and winter not too long behind. I will be considered a traitor when I state that I am not looking forward to it; I love the snow, but cannot drive in it. The merchants love it, as it signifies the skiers will be arriving. I too will welcome them, from the safety of my easy chair in front of the fireplace.
Hasta la vista
BELOVED VISITORS
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: October 2, 2009
I have been in hog heaven for the past two weekends; first my two wonderful daughters flew in from Dallas to spend one week end and then my two sisters, one from El Paso, the other from California, came to see me.
Those days are always the hardest for me to spend alone. That is when my hubby and I did everything around the house and garden, shopped, dined, went to the slots and tried out luck. We also went out of town every few months, Dallas, El Paso, Albuquerque and Santa Fe. We loved to explore and try new things, especially new restaurants.
The first week end my daughters and I spent talking, walking, laughing, eating, and shopping. The days flew by so fast, before I knew it, they were gone. I endured the following days because I knew my sisters were coming .
They arrived and we also spent a lot of time reminiscing on the old days, even going back when we were young and still lived at home. My older sister and I did a lot of things together, once we were so bored when our parents were not home that we took turns taking pictures of each other in different places and quirky poses. So of course, we took the photo albums out and laughed at ourselves.
I am nine years older than my younger sister, so my thoughts of her were as a baby girl, who took my place in the house as supreme being. I never envied her that position because I loved her with all my heart, and I still do.
Our conversations also centered on the antics of my beloved, he was such a card. We laughed and cried together at some of the comments he was always making. This has served as a catharsis for my soul. Speaking of him and remembering him are also a part of healing. This is not always understood by a majority of people, who think that if they mention his name I will fall apart. I tend to do this alone, in the privacy of my home.
My sisters and I also spent time in the kitchen, cooking, exchanging recipes, and helpful hints on easier ways of doing things. After all, we have a combined total of one hundred sixty seven years of married lives, which gives us quite an edge over newly weds. Oh, we also talked about different ways of handling our husbands!
My older sister and her husband (who was wonderful by enduring our ceaseless talking) left two days ago, and I will have my younger sister for another week, so I am deliriously happy. I know that she has an allergy to dog hair, and has been supportive of my love for my pooch. He, in turn, tries his best to get her to pet him, doing his one and only trick of sitting up and begging. It hasn’t happened yet, but maybe on our trip back to El Paso
I will be visiting my children in Dallas the week after she leaves, so will still have plenty of company.
To paraphrase from one of Dean Martin’s old songs, “How lucky can one gal be?”
Hasta la vista
NEW TEARS
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: September 24, 2009
I have been getting stronger every day that passes. There are actually days when I don’t cry, and I go to bed thinking that I must have missed something, perhaps a thought, a phrase, a picture, an item that reminds me of my loss.
There are so many memories, the majority happy ones. Every once in a while I do remember some sad happenings in our fifty eight years of marriage, but those are the minority; I even smile at some of them, thinking how we overcame them. I grin and even laugh out loud at some of the quirky moments.
Today I cried. It was over a silly plant that I forgot to bring in, after warnings of the first frost hit our area. That plant was one which my beloved tendered through sunny and foggy days, one which had significant meaning to him since I had given it to him as a birthday present.
Sago palm is the name, and we first discovered that specie when we lived in California; our Japanese neighbors gave us one as a house warming gift when we first moved in. We never imagined that the palm would survive anywhere else except in that sunny state.
I was quite surprised to find them blooming in a nursery in the mountains of New Mexico; so knowing how much he enjoyed them, I purchased one. He was so thrilled and enthralled with their beauty. I was a witness to the care and love he bestowed on this green plant of nature.
When I remembered it was still outside, I got out of bed (it was two in the morning) rushed out, and brought it in. And then I cried.
My tears were for the possibility of losing it, after he had tended it for so long. I had already lost him, could I stand another loss, no matter how small? Would this symbol of his love for nature survive my neglect?
I have been enduring his departure at a very heavy price, will Mother Nature allow me to have this one vestige of his life to cling to?
Please Lord, let it live.
Hasta la vista
STERIOD WOMAN
Posted by: aliciarlopez on: September 17, 2009
Me? On steroids?
Never in a million years would I have believed it, until last week when my doctor advised me he was placing me on some for a week.
This all evolved after I finished the massive job of re-painting the deck. I felt fine, no problem. Two weeks after the last strokes were taken, my back began to hurt. It continued for a week until I finally decided I had better see a doctor, maybe I had wrenched it with all the bending, or, horrors of horrors, maybe I had a tumor! All these thoughts kept me sleepless until I saw him two days later.
First thing he asked me was “What have you been doing?” After relating my story, he stated he suspected I had been up to something which was uncommon to me. All the bending and twisting had put too much strain on my latent-loaded back; so he prescribed muscle relaxants and a pain killer, with a cortisone shot as dessert. They worked well, the pain went away, and I was happy.
This lasted two weeks, then all of a sudden, I found that I could not walk without pain in my right leg and hip. I tried the magic muscle relaxants, but they refused to help. Since the long Labor Day Holiday was approaching, I called the doctor on Friday, and he ordered the steroids for me. My first thought was, will I get real big muscles on my arms, will my legs expand to where I can not wear long pants, will I get dependent on them? Thinking of all the athletes and their problems with steroids did not give me a big feeling of confidence. They were only prescribed for six days, so that wasn’t too bad.
Tomorrow will be the last day; they have to be taken on diminishing amounts. They have helped considerably, the only complaint I had is that I couldn’t do anything. The leg pain was so bad, even the lightest of tasks seemed to be too much; me, who could go all day without stopping, was now a very close friend of the couch.
My pooch was quite upset with me, I could no longer take him on our daily walks. He did his best to remind me of them, jumping up and down , running to his leash, sitting and begging, all to no avail.
I have read three books, dozens of magazines, watched television, and pouted. I also played countless games of Scrabble against my computer. It beat me several times , using words I had never heard of until I got smart and discovered the “hint” column. This gave me access to its built in dictionary, and I finally was able to get even. Is this considered cheating? Not in my present state of mind.
I also visited the local casinos, where I could sit and get some entertainment.
Today I thought I would write on my blog, not only to keep in touch, but to keep from going crazy.
Monday I had X rays taken, and the wonderful doctor who runs that department at our local hospital, and who was my hubby’s radiologist, gave me the results. He came to me, smiled, and said he had bad news. He told me I was getting old. I told him I had some suspicions, and he had just confirmed them.
For starters, the beginning of arthritis in my hip, mal-alignment of the spinal column, wearing of the “cushions” between the spinal cords, etc. I was just happy that I did not have a tumor, or some horrible disease. Old age I can take.
Some therapy and mild prescriptions are on the way. I can happily say that I felt good enough today to start shampooing the rugs.
Well, I can’t spend all day on the couch, or at the casino. One wears away my bottom, and the other my pocket book.
Hasta la vista
Recent Comments