Fraidy's Christmas Card

This is from Fraidy Cat. I got a few of my friends to pose for my Occasional Christmas Greeting. They weren't too excited about the hats, but all in all, were good sports. The one 2nd from the right looks quite a bit like me, and the one on the other end resembles my kitty mother, but in a better humor. I'm not altogether sure what this holiday is all about, but our Mom seems keen on it, so it must be OK. It's nice that Little Brown and I get extra cat treats. I've even invited that cute little yellow and white kitty across the street to come over for a snack now and then, but don't tell Mom. She frets about the cost of our food. Well, of course, we deserve (and demand!) the best! I'll keep this brief -- have a Merry Whatever!
Love, Fraidy
P.S. Hope your holiday has no wind, no rain, and if it's cold, may you have lots of blankets to curl up in.
F

A Seadrift Christmas is a Day at the Beach

Or, as some say, a piece of cake? a slam dunk? Or, well, whatever homily you use to say something is easy to do. Certainly, without a gathering of family (wonderful and much-loved tho they may be) with which to coordinate for the Christmas festivities, it is fairly stress-free to schedule what I’ve come to refer to as CJ’s Holiday Tradition.

Once I was divorced and on my own living in Texas, I devised my own version of a Christmas celebration on those occasions when I was not going home to family in Kansas. In the Austin days, it meant baking pumpkin pie and peanut butter cookies, roasting a turkey breast, and packing a picnic thereof and heading for Lake Travis. Central Texas Decembers usually were not of a nature to inspire a dip in the lake, but a repast spread on a picnic table in a park, under a live oak tree, beside the sparkling water, was a worthy commemoration of the coming of the Christ Child.

For more than half of those 25 years in the Austin area, I was accompanied by my miniature dachshund, Gretchen, on jaunts of this nature. She was consistently at the ready to assist with any challenges regarding left-over turkey or pie.

These days, I’m living my dream of palm trees and Big Water on San Antonio Bay. Kansas and family, unfortunately, are even farther away. CJ’s Holiday Tradition continues, however, with that celebratory dinner at the beach. A 30-minute trip has me ensconced amid sand and shells, with lapping waves at my feet. Texas weather being what it is, enjoyment of Christmas Day at the beach sometimes requires remaining in one’s vehicle. Waves are waves, tho, and they come rolling in regardless of the temperature. A storm makes them even more picturesque. A mug of hot coffee from a thermos, a thick-sliced turkey sandwich, a wedge of pie, and hot-diggity-dog, it’s Christmas!

Staying in almost daily communication with my lovely family has been greatly enhanced the last few years with e-mail. My Big Sister, and 9 of 10 nieces and nephews are e-mail advocates, along with uncounted great- and great-great-nieces and nephews. Far-flung friends, as I call them, also stay in touch this way. No fear of ever feeling alone!

I get together with two couples, that I have called friends for 40 or 50 years, to toast the season, our friendship, and everything in-between. Boy, do we have lots of memories from those years.

So, here you have it, my Christmas Letter. You didn’t read about every single thing I did or that happened to me this year, but you already knew all of that anyway, communicator that I am. I wish you a very happy, Merry Christmas. May you feel the peace and love that is Christmas.