The Last Post ...

My final post of 2011. Like every year, it seems, this one went by too fast. When you're young, time seems to drag. When you're older, the opposite holds true. Now, I'm just wondering if I'll be able to stay awake long enough to welcome in the New Year. Probably not. But, no doubt, I'll be awake in the middle of the night again, on January 1st, 2012, drinking coffee and checking out all the supposedly interesting photos from today on Flickriver. Most will likely be creative ways of saying "Happy New Year!" to their friends and family. Like I just did, but without the photo.

Aspergers

According to one on-line source, Asperger syndrome is "a developmental disorder that is characterized by:

• limited interests or an unusual preoccupation with a particular subject to the exclusion of other activities.
• repetitive routines or rituals.
• peculiarities in speech and language, such as speaking in an overly formal manner or in a monotone, or taking figures of speech literally.
• socially and emotionally inappropriate behaviour and the inability to interact successfully with peers.
• problems with non-verbal communication, including the restricted use of gestures, limited or inappropriate facial expressions, or a peculiar, stiff gaze.
• clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements".

This was the subject last night of a lengthy telephone discussion with my friend, Vlad. We agreed that we both suffer from this so-called disorder, to some degree (him, more than me, of course). Indeed, we thought most older men do.

I certainly can get preoccupied with a given subject for days on end (with him, it's more like months on end, maybe suggesting a compulsive-obsessive twist). And, with my back pain this week, my motor movements certainly were clumsy and uncoordinated (more than usual).

I also seem to have some repetitive routines. One of my favourites is my afternoon nap. Another is sharing a bowl of Cheetos with my dog at bed-time.

One routine I've developed that I'm not impressed with is waking up about 3 a.m. and having a cup of coffee while I review the latest interesting photos on Flickriver. That, of course, reinforces the need for a nap, later in the day.

Okay, enough of the self-analysis. Note that I made two posts today, proving that I haven't lost my touch in that regard.

Statistics Don't Lie

I just checked and found I've written 550 posts so far and the last one was on Christmas Eve. So, you say, who cares? Hmmm ... not too many people, I suppose. So, nearly a week later, I guess I'll make it 551. I do have a better excuse than usual for taking so long to keep you up to date on my exciting life here at 43 Carbutt.

On Christmas Eve Day (or was it the day before that?), I put my back out.  It rarely happens. Maybe every 10 years or so? But, it's a pain. A stabbing pain in the lower back, especially when you try to move from point 'A' to point 'B'. Think "walk like a duck". I did manage to get through the festivities with hardly a grimace. I don't like to complain in public.

Lots of rest, some liniment, a few glasses of wine and a rum and coke, and many Tylenol 3's later, I'm almost back to normal (pun intended). Statistically speaking, I may even write another blog post before New Years Eve.

Christmas Eve

Our present to the dogs this afternoon was to take them to Beaudry Provincial Park for a good run off-leash.  While Marg watched over the mutts, I took advantage of the golden light of the setting sun to take a few photos of some cattails that seemed to glow.

Then, it was back home. Marg wanted me to get a photo of our new and decorated Christmas tree with the lights on in the dark living room.  So, here it is.  There are lots of presents under the tree but most of them will be taken over to the grand-kids tomorrow morning.

We were planning to attend Christmas Eve services at Marg's church tonight but I managed to hurt my back today and decided sitting stiffly in a pew for a couple of hours was not a great idea.  So, we're staying home to rest up for tomorrow's family activities.

Connecting over the Holidays

Part of the fun of the holiday season is reconnecting with friends and family.  Although most of mine are scattered across Canada, there are some who live in or are travelling in other countries. It's a challenge, touching base with some of them.  Fortunately, we have a variety of tools to help us make those important connections.

We can, of course, open our home to friends and family who live close by, as they do for us. Face to face contact has always been best. For those further afield, we can use email, the social media (like Facebook), digital and written letters, cards, and, of course, the telephone. I haven't tried it yet but we could also use video chat (Skype).

However we make those connections, it's good to make them. Everyone feels better, knowing they are remembered at this time of year. Unfortunately, there remain a few people we cannot contact, for one reason or another, but we can still think about them and, in our minds, wish them all the best, now and in the New Year.

Be of Good Cheer ...

... for Christmas is near.  If you're like me, you're looking forward to Christmas because it means you'll get to see your kids and your grand-kids again.  Sure, there are gifts to exchange and great food to share but it's the 'getting together' that's the most important thing.

It's also a great opportunity for some of us to bring our family photo albums up to date by catching the younger ones playing with their new toys. They don't even notice the camera in your hands because they are so fascinated by their gifts. Sometimes, you can also persuade people to gather together for those family group shots that are so hard to get at other times.

Occasionally, in the past, I've printed up recent shots of members of the family and given them as Christmas gifts, usually pre-framed and ready to hang on the wall. They seem to be greatly appreciated. Equally appreciated, by me, are the Christmas family group shots that my kids have taken by professional photographers and give to me each year.

Only Five More Sleeps

The Christmas season has snuck up fast on me this year. I haven't even finished writing my annual letter to friends and relatives. Hopefully, I'll do that today. But, never fear, I have gotten all the presents. They just need to be wrapped or, in some cases, slipped into a card.

It's hard to believe that in 5 days, it'll actually be Christmas. I'm so looking forward to spending time with family, both at Josi's family brunch and Marg's family dinner. Like all grand-parents, I most enjoy watching the grand-kids open their gifts and seeing their eyes sparkle when they see what they've been given. Marg and I have been doing something very untraditional, giving each other our gifts early, as we get them for each other. Of course, I'm saving one special gift for her to open on Christmas Eve.

That'll happen right after we return home from attending Christmas Eve services at our local Church. We started that tradition together last year. This time, we'll attend as a married couple. Happiness is ...

"What is your happiest memory?"

Have you ever been asked the simple question: "What is your happiest memory?" Most people will pause for a few moments, smile to themselves, and and describe some simple event from their past. Although it may seem trivial to the listener, it was a happy time in their life and it was and will always be treasured.

According to Pierce Harris, writing in the Atlanta Journal, "Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things".

Happiness can be restored, if only briefly, by thinking of or recalling some times in our past that brought us joy. Our happy memories are well worth remembering and examining now and then. They remind us life is full of good times, too.

What would you say if a friend asked you "What is your happiest memory?"

Adrift in Music

This morning, after reading my cousin Barb's blog post about Christmas music, I began listening to some of my favourite vocalists sing some traditional Christian music. Thanks to YouTube, I listened to some truly great songs by some fantastic singers. Singers like Nana Mouskouri, Celtic Woman, Eva Cassidy, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, and many others. And countless choirs.  Some of the music was quite moving.

One of the most moving was The Kelly Family singing Amazing Grace (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoL5-TUat5o&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLF084D2E1D77775A1). I dare any of you to listen to this song without tearing up.

So, if you have time, I suggest taking some time to explore some Christmas music on YouTube or on some of the radio stations that are now playing more or less non-stop Christmas music. It's a very good way to reduce the stress that sometimes creeps into our lives at this time of year.

Routines

Let the dogs out; (listen for Holly to yelp at the back door) let the dogs in. Repeat this several times per day. Tidy the kitchen and wash a load of dishes. Feed the dogs (after listening for Holly's whimper, "feed me, feed me"). Make my own lunch (hmmm ... did I do that or did I miss that again?). Do a load of laundry (even though Marg does most of it on the weekend). Most important, read for awhile and have a nap. Finally, make supper (tonight, a pork roast with potatoes and assorted greenery). I enjoy my routines. Happiness is ...

Christmas Cards

I stopped sending out Christmas cards years ago. With the ability to email my Christmas greetings, I let the cards fall by the wayside. I do send the occasional card out, usually just to people I know that don't have an email address. Well, an email address that I have on file in my contacts folder any ways.

My Christmas greetings, like many of the people I know, go out in the form of a Christmas letter.  The letter, just one or two pages long, recounts my year, letting friends and relatives read about what I consider the highlights of my year. Sometimes, it may seem redundant, having written about most of them, here in this blog. But, the letter goes to many people who I know never read these posts. Of course, I suppose some people don't even read my Christmas letter but that's their lose. I often include the odd photo in the letter.  Sometimes, it's a shot of me or my home or my dog or, more recently, my grand-kids.

So, be watching your email box to see if you are on my Christmas letter list. If you don't receive one this month, it means I don't have your email address. That's easy to fix. Just send it to me. Maybe, enclose it in a Christmas card?

Beauty Sleep

One of the many nice things about retirement is the ability to have a nap during the day.  It's especially nice on those winter days when it's really cold outside, you have an interesting book to read while you get drowsy in your warm, comfortable bed, and there are no pressing errands to run.  When I think about it, that means almost every winter day here in Winterpeg for me.

Sure, I feel a bit guilty, napping while others are at work. But, hey, I was in their shoes for many, many years and, now, things are different.  Most days, all I really have to do is tend the two dogs, Holly and Mollie, and prepare a nice meal for my wife, Margaret.

This afternoon, I don't even have to make a meal. No, we're not having left-overs (though we could). I'm meeting my wife at a new Mexican restaurant because she's working a bit late at Celebrations and I want to do a little shopping near there before I meet up with her.

I'm happy to say that the Christmas shopping is almost all done. Tonight, I want to buy a new pair of runners for the treadmill we're setting up in the basement.  It's simply too cold to go for long walks now and I definitely need more exercise. The treadmill should help. I have a feeling that, with all the holiday eating ahead, that treadmill will get a lot of use.

The Penultimate Day

One more day to go. By this time tomorrow, I'll be a happily married man. Margaret and I will have finally tied the knot. It seems like it has taken forever to reach this point but I know that's not the case. But, it certainly will be the last time that I'll get married. I have no intention of ever disappointing this fine woman. I may have a hard time, at my age, living up to my promise to give her 20 years but I'll give it my best shot for her sake.

"True love stories never have endings" (Richard Bach).