Christmas Cactus~ A story about Love

This will be the 6th Christmas without my mom. She always made Christmas a BIG deal. She was always so creative and thoughtful and concise with her intent of gift giving. She was never a rich woman, but always rich with love and tenderness. We baked, planned the meal, and she would always spend Christmas Eve night at our house.

The Christmas before she died, (she died on her birthday January 7th the following year) I had purchased two Christmas cactus's. One for her, and one for me. They were pathetic 4" pots of neglected plants that had been picked through at Lowes, but I thought "Oh I bet that mom can at least keep hers alive, and at that time I was a plant killer and figured I would give it a shot too)

Anyway, when going through her things and getting her house in order I gave my brother and his wife all of her plants except her pathetic Christmas Cactus.

I planted our two cactus in the same pot, and low and behold the following Christmas it bloomed. It has bloomed every Christmas sense, and I have always just thought it was my moms way of coming to hug me at Christmas time and to let me know that she will always be with me in memories and spirit.

Well, since changing jobs this year I brought the cactus home and have seriously neglected it. A couple of weeks ago I saw it and seriously had a breakdown because I was sure it was not going to bloom this year. I felt overwhelmingly sad, and angry that I was so selfish as to not even take care of stupid plant.

Well last night, I noticed that there are three perfect buds coming on and it will be blooming by Christmas! I think this is the Christmas spirit I have been wishing for! Thank you mom!

Hater of People

Have I mentioned that I used to be a lover of people? I seriously hate to admit it, but at the ripe old age of 47 I have come to be a people hater.

Let me tell you why:
~ Is it really so hard to freaking say "good-morning" to someone when they speak to you?
~ Is it really so freaking hard to say "thank-you" if someone does something human, like say hold a door open for you?
~ Is it really so freaking hard to "include" the new girl in any conversation, activity or group interaction that occurrs' right in front of her?
~ Is it so freaking hard to just tell your mother that you love her for no good damn reason?
~ Is it really so freaking hard to step outside yourself and inquire as to how another human being may be doing?

I mean really, is this shit hard or what? I am thinking that I don't like hating people, but......... they are making me do it!

Hannah and Nick last year decorating the Christmas tree, I am pretty much a scrooge this year, I have been in a rut, and I did not take pictures this year, although I think the tree is really much prettier this year. The two of these crack me up! One dollar reindeer horns are the bomb!

Teenager in the house!

So today is a big day in my house. It is official. I have a bonified teenager in the house now. In fact she is downstairs with three of her friends for the birthday sleepover. Wow! I said I would never do that again! We had a sleep over party a few years back, and it was quite a painful experience with one of the girls going home at midnight, I swore I would never do it again. Well here I am, doing it again. Have I mentioned that there is a six year old fast asleep on the couch. He must be moved because my plan is for me to sleep on the couch!

So blogging is new to me. Anybody that knows about me can clearly say that I am technologically challenged to say the very least! Well, how about this? Thanks to my friends Emily and Dee Ann I have arrived into the 21st century finally! Hopefully I can keep up and keep you entertained in the process!