Martha

It is too early to be awake.  The sun light isn't creeping through the kitchen window, yet.  The two children are still snug in their beds.  The thermostat is still below 65 degrees.  So, it is nippy in the house.  Just the way she likes it; cold.  The coffee smells good and she finishes her cup and pours another one.  Coffee is her life saver some times.  It is warm and soothing going down.  Even holding the cup in both hands is soothing when she feels lonely.

The cards she plays solitaire with are warn.  She needs another deck.  But, there are groceries to buy instead of playing cards.  Besides, if anything happens to her car or the house, where will that money come from.  She cannot ask her Father for anything for a while.  He just paid the plumber to fix the bathroom sink in her bedroom.

She just shuffles the warn deck of cards and deals another game of solitaire.  She could play this game without looking.  It passes the time for her in a way that television cannot fill for her.  She must be quiet as not to disturb the children.  She has been taught by the two previous husbands to be quiet in the mornings.  When she can't sleep, instead of turning on the television, she plays solitaire.  And, she plays solitaire, this morning, with her worn cards.  Dealing seven stacks face down, one on top of the other, without even thinking about them.

What she does think about is how this Friday will turn out.  The children have their last day of school before the Christmas holiday.  They have to have something in their stomachs before they leave for the short walk to the Elementary School.  And, they each need some lunch money.  It is only $.53, each.  But, it needs to be there every time they leave for school or they will not have anything for lunch.

It is easier to put the coins out for them than it is to make a lunch and have them complain about what is between the bread.  She doesn't like to be judged on the sandwiches she prepares for them in their lunches.  Usually, bologna with lettuce and some mustard on bread.  That is the standby sandwich the gets packed into the lunch bag.  The other problem is to decide what else to put into the bag to fill their stomachs at lunch time.

It is very difficult for her to make the lunches.  She doesn't like to be judged on the contents of the lunch bag by the children.  This becomes a daily struggle for her.  She makes sure there is $.53 there for them to purchase a lunch, everyday, at school.  It is less pressure for her.

She sips her second cup of coffee and deals another game of solitaire.  And, she notices the sunlight coming through the kitchen window.  It is time to wake the children for school.

Here is the deal.  
And, it's no big deal.


Christmas is approaching.  The tree isn't out of the storage.  The gifts are purchased and remain unwrapped on the guest room bed.  There are a few decorations around the house.  And, everyone is busy working their jobs and making plans for the Holidays.


Since, James, Brittany, Sara and David came over for Thanksgiving, my expectation for a Christmas get together is slim.  It will be hard to organize everyone's schedule into a time when our visits will overlap.  


So, come visit when you can.  We'll hug each other and laugh and eat.  


I love my family and will always welcome them, home.


Merry Christmas! 

Pumpkin

This morning, I left out in the cold car headed to the bank to deposit a check.  It was really chilly out there.  The bank was not open, yet.  So, I dropped my deposit in the over night box.  Checking to make sure the clunking sound was my deposit making its way to the bottom of the box.

Then, when I got back in my warm house, I started a pumpkin pancake with banana in it.  Man, it was scrumptious.  I put the pan on the stove, heated it and warmed some butter in the bottom.  When the pan was hot, I added the pumpkin pancake mix.  Then, sliced a banana into the batter.  I even created a smiley face with the bananas.  At my house, it is always fun playing with the food.  Turning the seven-inch pancake was a slight problem, but it didn't change the taste of the food.

I am still working on the large pancake.  I have a third of it left.  So, I better get back to it.

Love ya, and
Merry Christmas.