Not that I don't love family, but I'm the one always on the road and they're not. They tried to resurrect it again (my niece) but my sister knew what I meant when I said, Nooooooo!! Let me have a break from traveling (for holidays, bdays, Mom and Dad's day, etc.)...

I feel like we're both 10 years younger too...

I like when family come here for Christmas and we spend ten days near a beach.
No such trip this Christmas - too sad after Hurricane Melissa.

Like driftwood or a scrap of log. He has such a kindly face. Really well done.

Best gift this year, was that for the first time in many years, it felt like Christmas. We had fun, laughed a lot. Music, good food, and our family was home. It makes me happy to see family traditions getting passed along with the generations. So many young cooks and bakers. So much kindness and hope.

Her parents are close friend but her mom died in 2024.
I cooked for some friends the Sunday after Christmas. The numbers are less as one by one folks die. Most folks here kept things quiet because of the suffering from Melissa.

Now I have a new nice warm coat!

Second sis gave me several new tops in November when we got together.

He knows I'm the grandma without extra funds.
He stayed an hour or so, just talking.

How lovely

to the play Come From Away with lunch before...
Another kid gave me 5 watercolor lessons... It will be interesting to see if I can actually paint anything... but I'm sure that it will be a great experience... I awarded myself a participation award for my try at decorating cookies on Christmas Day...

😀

Literally speaking, we got the Apple box so we could watch HBO Max with optimal quality.

Formerly, HBO looked quite crappy on my six-year old 4K LG smart TV. Now, most shows look great.

It's a top-of-the-line OLED TV. For many reasons, I would not buy LG again.

Nice

That was the last weekend of November. Had surgery on 12/3 and am waiting for my vision to fully return. The doctor says it's healing well.

that sounds pretty terrible

It's not painful, but your vision is messed up. The surgery is considered emergency because you can go blind in the affected eye. My vision is coming back, slowly.

I do know someone that had that happen but he's a tough sucker and he would never admit if it was painful LOL. he's had a fractured pelvis, hip replacement, heart problems, and been snakebit. twice!

rancher/cowboy. need I say more?

Please heal quickly

I'm trying, but recovering from this takes time. Thankfully, I figured out what was happening quickly and went to the doctor the day after the tear started.

I know that you've been through it lately and sympathize. Same to you.

no more room for things, rather have some peace and quiet.

my son did get a rice cooker - an appliance I was highly unlikely to ever buy - but gotta say it makes pretty good rice! way better than me. LOL

Gave one to friends at their wedding 25 years ago. He insists that his immediate ability to cook rice has been good for their marriage😀

yes being good at least at something can make up a lot for not being good in the kitchen in general.

We spoke for over an hour. 😀

Sounds like a special phone call! I'm happy for you!

And their husbands.

😀

For adding the family😀

😀

I hung it next to where I sit on the couch.

Took me back 70 years to when I was 10. 🍒🍒🍒

He loved them! 🥲

local stationary store that had those and buy a box. Then the two of us would sit in the car and share the whole box between us and chat about life.

What a great memory!!

Rec

My ex pretty much ruined it for all of us *eyeroll* but not having to work a full week was a definite bonus—and the fact the following week was a short one, too!

😀

That's a wonderful gift. Right back at you.

On Christmas Eve, our lawyer’s paralegal texted us that she had secured an appointment for us at the national Elections Tribunal to secure our cedulas which is an official ID card. These appointments are very difficult to come by and the earliest we expected one was March or April. Although we will not be eligible to vote in Panama, it is the highest form of ID here that even supersedes our U.S. passports. The appointment was last Monday and we will receive the cards this week.

This is the final and most important step for us to complete giving us full right and authority to stay in this beautiful country. Previously, we got our drivers licenses and Pensionado Visa cards. With all of these documents secured, our one-year journey to create an escape plan is now in place. Recent events have shown that our premonitions about the direction of the U.S. appear to becoming true. Very sad and disappointing.

😀😀😀

Good😀