Ready for Christmas

Okay, I bought a lottery ticket. It was for a chance to win over $400M, for heaven's sake! What a shock to discover that I won my money back! A whole $5.00. Now I have to decide if I will buy another one for a chance at the $550M on Tuesday.

I was on a mission yesterday. Christmas shopping needed to be completed, finished and done. Mom and I hit the stores early, found jewelry for my sister and I spent the rest of my Christmas money. We had a ball. We even stopped to watch our favorite Santa. He takes interest and extra time with each child.

While in Macy's, I was buying some trouser socks for one of my presents when I asked the young woman helping me if she was having people over for Christmas or was she going somewhere. It began an amazing conversation. She came out from behind the counter and told me about her grandmother. She was the matriarch of the family and after she passed away, there were no longer any traditions. They died with her. This young woman's mom just didn't know how to create new ones. She then told me that she missed her grandmother everyday but especially this time of year. I hugged her and told her that everytime she thought of her grandmother, she was with her. She replied, "I know. I feel her." It is remarkable how woman share such personal information with strangers.

After two hours of shopping, we walked to Max's for a bowl of my favorite Russian Cabbage Soup. It was packed. Mom was overextended, her back was beginning to hurt and didn't have her normal stamina as she really had not been out into the world for a week since getting sick. She sat while I put our name on a list for a table with a waiting time of 15-20 minutes. We settled it and began to chat when suddenly the manager appeared. He recognized us, grabbed two menus and immediately seated us. We were very touched. What a nice holiday gift! Then, our favorite waitress was assigned to our area and we were so well taken care of, it was lovely.

I dropped mom off then headed over the pass. Suddenly, the traffic stopped. We sat without moving for twenty minutes. We moved for maybe a half of a mile then we sat for another twenty minutes. It took just over an hour to get home, well exceeding the normal ten-minute drive. There was a roll over accident blocking all lanes. It was still as mess when Michael was on the road almost three hours later.

Today, I am going to the bank then to Safeway to buy gift cards for Christmas presents. I also ran out of wrapping paper! Then, it is into the gardens for me! It will be my last time before Christmas.