Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy  Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year to everyone.  Whatever holiday you are celebrating, be mindful of not allowing commercialization to get in the way of the traditions.  In 2021, everyone panicked about not getting gifts in time due to supply chain issues.  However, the gifts are not what is important.  It is getting together with family and friends with traditions old and new.  When you light a menorah, the seven candles, or the advent wreath, you are strengthening family bonds.  Traditions improve family stability, increase the feeling of belonging, and bring overall better well-being and health.

As we countdown until Christmas, we are beginning to see festive decorations lining the streets of our towns and neighborhoods. Stores are filled with healthy and smiling shoppers, and there are shoppers loaded down with bags filled with goodies anywhere you look. Of course, the other holiday experience is the parking lot crunch when finding a parking spot during the holiday season is not for the faint of heart. These exterior experiences are only a piece of the magic and memories of Christmas.

Just a brief time ago, the temperature in my neighborhood was chilly, snowy, and a little bit frosty. My gloves were never too far from the front door, and those 3-inch heels were safely put away in the closet until the snow was just a fleeting memory. The weather is teasing us that winter will soon be gone as the sun starts to warm the earth. The days are starting to get longer, and our minds travel to the sweet days of summer.

As a little girl, I loved grandma’s house. There was always the smell of freshly baked something in the air. The kitchen was inviting, and I still found myself sitting at the table watching grandma move around the room like a master orchestra conductor. The brindled color collie, Lindy, was just close enough to be underfoot but smart enough to keep her distance as grandma did her multi-tasking dance.