The Holidays Are Here!

Hello!

Hope that you are getting into the holiday spirit, and signing your Christmas cards and mailing them off today, if you haven’t already done so.

I will be spending Christmas with my sister, which I am very excited about, since we haven’t had an actual Christmas together since I was like 8 years old.

 Santa on Socials

Fun fact:  Santa Claus is on social media.  He has his own Facebook page, and he live streams a lot.  

He live-streams from snow-covered places he visits, and you get to hear plinkly, plunky holiday music laid overtop the gently pitter patter of snow falling whilst gazing upon a wintery, relaxing scene.  It’s fun to have on, just playing in your earbuds whilst you are typing away completing your normal activities.

Of course, people tune in and start writing in their comments.  Don’t spend too much time reading the comments, because you’ll get bored or depressed.   Most people are just saying fun things like, “Santa is real! I believe!” "Hello to my grandchildren, from Denver, CO!"  And there is a lot of fun connection from people from all over the world saying where they are and sending well-wishes, prayers, and lots of encouragement. 

There are also lots of people who use the comments as a live connection to a proverbial deity figure, sending prayers for their loved ones,

Trying to cope with misery,

And there are plenty of folks sending Santa-sized requests like, “Santa, are you real? Could you possibly bring home our troops this Christmas?”

And then others may respond and send very encouraging words, and sometimes it briefly turns into a support group for cancer survivors or the like.  

It unites people together, and therefore, I believe in Santa.

 

I did so many fun things over Thanksgiving!

My brother (the 7’ tall brother) came to Maryland for the week from his new state of residence, Tennessee. He’s lived in Louisiana the past almost 10 years, and now he is starting over in TN. So, he took a bus over.

A few highlights: We went to NASA, where my stepdad works, and took a bit of a private tour there. Are you into outer space? Well then buckle your seatbelt.

Mario explained to us all about the new telescope they are sending out, the James Webb Space Telescope (click here)

We got to actually see it!

This actual thing is going to be launched into outer space, and will be able to see where life began, and if our universe is still expanding, and other things about the Big Bang!  It was very cool. 

Then, we went to my stepdad’s office area, and played with his toys.  Well, we didn’t actually touch anything, but he explained all the things, and showed us compression chambers and stuff.

This compression chamber could probably suck up Baltimore!

So, my stepdad made this thing with his hands.  It's a compression chamber which will test space matter to see if it can withstand the temperature and pressure.  That machine was set to something like -220 degrees F.   He makes all sorts of things like this!!

We also saw this machine/mirror that is for optical engineering (I have no idea about what its actual purpose is,) and it has a ton of little mirrors which zoom right in on your eyeball as soon as you get in front of it.  I went to take a photo of it, and it thought my phone camera lens was the eyeball (which is true) so that’s what this photo is:

Here is the machine, stand in front of it but DON'T TOUCH IT

Look up close:

ICE! and E.T.

We also went to ICE! at the Gaylord National Harbor.  You should totally go!  It was so much fun.  I went a few years ago, and it was cute (they did “Frosty The Snowman”), but it wasn’t as good as this year!   This year  is something like, “Christmas Around The World,” and it was fun!

Nativity scene

Flag ornaments

Bet you can't spot me!

E.T.

We also went to The Kennedy Center to see the National Symphony Orchestra play the score to “E.T.”.  I didn’t realize that they were actually going to play the movie, and have the symphony play in front of the screen! 

It was absolutely amazing, I loved it.  You should definetly look to see when local orchestras are doing stuff like that again.  This morning I passed a billboard that was advertising “It’s A Wonderful Life” by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.   Here, here is the website.  click here.  You better go!  I want to see that Facebook check-in!!

Finally, we made a trip up to NYC to visit our great Aunt again, as you may remember we did a couple of years ago.  It’s so good to see her and her family. 

Okay, so that’s my news!

Also, at around 3 AM Thanksgiving morning, I got a message from Mike with this photo:

I love the story of Veronica.  I remember connecting instantly with her when I saw the depiction of her actions in the movie “The Passion.”   

As Jesus was stumbling and falling and bleeding and desperate walking towards Calvary, he fell a few times carrying his own gigantic cross.  One time when he fell, this lady ran to him, devil-may-care, and brought him water and wiped his face and just took a moment to BE with him, amidst the chaos and panic and torture.  

Probably, she could have been executed right on the spot, but the Lord put his hand over the whole situation.  Nothing else mattered in the world at that moment, only that she was going to run towards who she believed in.

When she looked at the rag used to wipe his face, his image remained in the blood and sweat soaked fabric.  Hence, she was dubbed the lady of the True Icon – Vera Icon. Veronica.  Click here for more.

I’d like to think I would do the same thing.

I’m going to start signing all of my emails with this signature:

Veronica

True Image, LLC

Okay, have a nice holiday!

Saw this sign at a barber shop in Pennsylvania

Thank You

Chipotle has these obscure "Two Minute Read" cups. I really liked the one I received whilst at lunch one day with Crossfit, and thought that it would be a good exercise to complete. The author wrote in his notes that:

 "It occurred to me that there are all sorts of people who’ve done wonderful things for me, big and small, and I never got a chance to thank them.  So I thought I’d take the opportunity to do so." 

So here it goes... my thanks for wonderful things, big and small, whether their effects were immediate or lifelong.

Ryan said, "Don't undervalue what you've done." He told me to not self-depreciate, and to own accomplishments; that even if you are the only one standing at the plate, at least you showed up to the ball game.  Since my infancy, my mother told me to walk in the crosswalks, because you get more money in the lawsuit if a car hits you... which sounds ridiculous to you but not to me. On long road trips, we would sing “A-you’re a-dorable” song, and the song “Low Bridge” which have proven to be most useful throughout my years.

Julie was my first best friend and taught me the rules of sharing and being nice to your friends, because they are your friends.

Taylor Ranch instilled in me how to garden and grow, inch by inch, row by row. Joan said, "Measure twice, cut once."  In a bedroom closet where spare chairs were kept, Alex used to pilot the space ship into outer space, and even though even in the moment I knew it was silly and pretend, I swear to god I could see it.

Lorraine let me crawl into her bed with her and do Sudoku puzzles and not talk about it if I didn't want to, any day of the week.  Justin chased down my car before I left the driveway. JP left flowers at my door to greet me when I got home from a long trip.  Brian said, "Bring me the bill, I'll pay for it."

Mark taught me to wait until the other person is finished speaking. Wait until everyone else stands up and leaves. Wait until all the pieces fall together. A kindred soul gave me Southwest points and made dreams come true.  Kate made lots of itineraries.  Jesse said he would drive us up the mountain.  Janet went into my house when I wasn't home and put food and flowers in my kitchen.  Regina forged me into a creature who could love a friend through constant inflicted hurt, teaching me how to instantly forgive.

Andi wrote, "He knows what we all know," and I felt her smile from across the country, and it filled me with a warmth I still embrace in cold times.

Sara with No H fit like she belonged.  Daniela said, "No, you need to leave work and be in a machine right now!" Jen blasted Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" in her 1987 Plymouth Caravelle in the high school parking lot. Sue said that she was very funny.  Larry said very little, but smiled a lot. Peter said that caring sounds like some sort of expenditure of emotional capital, and that juice had better be worth the squeeze.

Katherine is one of the most beautiful, smart, successful people I (and most people) have ever known, and before we left, she told me that she wanted to be more like me. Steve is a giant with a tender heart who prays.  Jeremy shakes my hand. Trinity sent me a box of groceries.  After a heavy sigh, Christian said, "Salvage what you can."  Michelle said,"Just remember, credit awarded!" Rachel spent many nights around cold wet ditches to save the kittens.  Scotty gave me the gift of his story.  

My dad would dance around the kitchen. He would also say words that were very intense and raw, and if they were directed at you, you would endure the uncomfortable and extended moments it took, because you knew it was necessary because they were gems straight from his heart.  I realize apologetically but not regretfully that I have inherited that exact trait.  Liz persistently reminds me to keep blogging.  After hundreds of sunsets spent elsewhere, La Push taught me the real magic of the horizon at sunset. Great-Aunt Anna took my hand and said, "I love you too, dear."  Melissa sent me a box. Nick helped me move several times, asking nothing in return. 

Elaine taught me about couch day. Karen brought me with her, and I brought her with me.   Lots of boys drove me around in their cars.  Jennifer went and got me a sponge and bucket when the twin towers were going down.  Jason said, "What was the last thing she said to you?" To which I replied, "She said, 'I'll talk to you later.'"  And he replied, "So then she'll talk to you later."  In frustration and sadness, I said, "How can they be so cruel? I just don't understand!" to which Mario replied, "And you never will."  

Carols of the Season

I hope your Thanksgiving was great, and filled with warm memories, and that you want for nothing and no one.

I never know how to feel around this time of year, so I usually just sing Christmas carols very loudly in my head (or out of my head) to compensate for the discomfort.  I'm pretty sure that's the whole principle behind why Christmas carols exist.

It's hard for me to make out where I stand and what I should/should not be doing/saying to my varying degrees of family.  It's very complicated.  I'm sure your situation is the same - I am not unique.  Perhaps this is the whole reason people started caroling in groups, and even going door-to-door, for that matter.  Uncertainty must love company.  Everyone just decided to throw back some libations and go singing up and down the streets one day, in acknowledgement of no one knowing how else to feel.

Oh, and because Christmas carols are jolly and fun.  Even I can admit that.

I went up to NYC (Queens) to be with my great-aunt.  A lot of family members were there.  The food was amazing.  It was just how I imagined it would be.

My great-aunt's house, with the date stamp May 6 1906

Side note - without fail, every single time I get to around exit 10 on the NJ turnpike, me, or someone else in the vehicle, will say, "oh god, what's that smell?!"   The answer is always, "New Jersey."

Being the introvert I am, I am glad to now be at home and around no people, as my entire energy bucket was spent on socializing over the past couple of days.  I will need a while to recover.  Please leave a message.

I'm really starting to embrace my Netflix subscription.

I wonder what this season will hold.  I really can't tell.

Meanwhile, I suppose I'll just stare at all of the decorations around the city, and in stores, and buildings, and my neighbor's house (just wait till you see.  I'll take a good photo for you.) And I'll hope to feel something other than the need to burst out into Christmas carols.

Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la, la, la.