by Judy Handley | Dec 1, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 335: Christmas on Cape Cod
Date: Friday, December 1, 2023
Weather: Overcast; High 53, Low 47 F; Sunset 4:14 pm (-1 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Today was the official beginning of the holiday season here on Cape Cod. Holidays-by-the-Sea began in Falmouth at 5 pm this evening and the Cape Cod Symphony had their opening of Holiday on the Cape today.
Terry and Olivia White picked me up and took me to Hyannis for lunch and the concert. We met Bruce and Jane Woodin at Pain D’Avignon Restaurant and Boulangerie for a late lunch and then on to the concert. Lunch for me was Quiche Loraine with a salad and it was delicious.
I went with Terry and Olivia as Terry could drive me up to the door of the restaurant and the concert. Walking continues to be a major issue, but the Celebrex is helping take the edge off the pain.
The Holiday on the Cape concert was wonderful. The Cape Cod Symphony was joined by the Chatham Chorale and soloist Patrice Tiedeman.
What a strong voice! Her first solo was “Christmas on Cod.” Here’s the first and last verse to give you a taste of Christmas on Cape Cod.
Christmas on Cape Cod,
Come share the festivity
Of a Christmas by the Sea!
Where the children all will flock
To greet Santa on the dock,
When he arrives by boat.
And the harbors glow at night,
When boats decked in Christmas lights
Form a big parade that floats …
Christmas on Cape Cod
Feel the spirit in your heart
And you’ll be here every year
For Christmas on Cape Cod –
Celebrating Christmas on Cape Cod,
Celebrating Christmas on Cape Cod.
We were also treated with a special Chanukah arrangement created by a member of the Symphony. And in the end, we were joined by Santa Claus.
It was certainly a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit.
by Judy Handley | Nov 30, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 334: O Christmas Tree
Date: Thursday, November 30, 2023
Weather: Partly Sunny, a Tad Warmer: High 56, Low 44 F; Sunset 4:15 pm (-0 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
O, Christmas Tree, O, Christmas Tree,
How lovely are thy branches!
O, Christmas Tree, O, Christmas Tree,
Of all the trees most lovely!
Each year you bring to us delight,
With brightly shining Christmas light!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Of all the trees most lovely.
I love the German Christmas carol, O Tannenbaum, because there is not much in life I enjoy more than my Christmas tree all lit up. I love the stories from the 16th century that report devout German Christians bringing decorated trees into their homes. I love even more the stories that report that people built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated the structure with evergreens and candles when trees were scarce. One of my favorite Christmas trees ever was in 2014 when Mark and I went to Puerto Rico for Christmas. Jo gathered driftwood from the beach and fashioned a beautiful tree.
01 Driftwood Christmas Tree
04 Thinking Ahead to Christmas Morning
When I was growing up, my dad rarely appeared to be happy except on Christmas Eve when he lit up like the Christmas tree. Watching my dad be so happy made the Christmas tree symbolize joy in my life. Each year when my tree goes up, I still feel like a four-year old helping her dad put up the Christmas tree on Christmas eve, decorating it with lights and then throwing on those long silver strands of tinsel. Pure joy! This afternoon, I went to get the tree at Coonemessett Farm and was again shocked that a Balsam fir here costs more than a Balsam fir in Puerto Rico. Here they say the high cost is due to shipping, but they certainly don’t grow Balsam firs on the island, and I would think transportation from the northern US all the way to Puerto Rico would be way more than from the northern US to any place in the northern US, even Cape Cod!
Despite the price, I had the tree loaded in my car, picked Jonah up on my way home, crammed him in the back of my car with the tree as all of the seats but the driver’s seat were down to accommodate the tree, and home we went. He got the tree up all by himself,
took Shadow for a walk, and then put the lights on the tree. He is top down lighter just like Justin and Jo. For whatever reason, I have always started at the bottom of the tree with the lights, but it looks just as good one way as the other. I will decorate it slowly over the next few days, but I can start enjoying the tree all lit up beginning tonight.
Joy!
Heather made the 12 and a half hour flight to Dubai just fine. She left Boston at 10:30 pm last night and sent a text around noon our time today saying she was in her room and ready for some sleep. It is now 6:30 am there, so she will up soon and ready for the first day of COP28. I picked Ollie up from tennis this evening and took him to Mashpee for his Christmas jazz group practice. I did a little food shopping while I was waiting for him and then brought him home. Jed and I are trying share driving duties while Heather is away, but this weekend is going to be a challenge. Jonah and Sam have multiple soccer games on Saturday and Sunday, all off Cape and not all close together. It is also the weekend of the lighting of the tree on the Green and the Christmas parade. And tomorrow afternoon I am going to the Holiday Pops on the Cape with the Cape Cod Symphony. I am being driven by friends, so they can drop me right at the door. There is no way I would be able to walk from the parking lot. Tis the season.
by Judy Handley | Nov 29, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 333: Quiet Morning, Late Afternoon Trip to Hyannis
Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny, but Chilly: High 36, Low 32 F; Sunset 4:15 pm (-1 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
What I can get done in a day due to my back issues has dwindled to very little. I can still contribute to getting grandkids to and from activities. I just can’t get out of the car and walk any distance when we arrive. This is fine for most things, but tonight I wanted to get out of the car to watch Sam and Jonah practicing under the lights at Barnstable High School, but I couldn’t walk the distance. So very frustrating.
I started taking Celebrex on Monday. At first I was taking the capsules a friend gave me and they were 200 mg, one twice a day, They seemed to really help. But then my doctor prescribed 100 mg capsules, one twice daily, and they help a tad but don’t take away the pain when I walk. So, I am contemplating upping the dosage to take two 100 mg capsules twice a day instead. I’ll report on how that is going in a few days.
In the meantime, I hobble along. But at least I can hobble!
by Judy Handley | Nov 28, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 332: With a Little Help from Friends and Family
Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, Windy, Cold: High 41, Low 26 F; Sunset 4:16 pm (-0 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Heather arrived at 8:20 am to take Shadow for a morning walk. My back has gotten to the point where walks longer than down my driveway are just out of the question. So, Shadow and I both really appreciated Heather’s offer to walk Shadow. Then this afternoon after school, Jonah came over to rake Shadow on his afternoon walk. Again, Shadow and I were very grateful.
My day in between Shadow walks was very quiet. I read some, started a new jigsaw puzzle, played fetch with Shadow, watched some of Rosalyn Carter’s funeral in between icing my back. I dealt with some medical issues for my sister on the phone and then called my primary care to see if he would prescribe Celebrex for my back pain. Last night, a member of my wine group suggested Celebrex and this morning she brought 6 pills over for me to try. I felt I needed to check first with my primary care, and he agreed that it was worth a try, so he prescribed it for me. Celebrex reduces inflammation and has fewer undesirable side effects that other similar drugs. My neurosurgeon’s assistant prescribed pregabalin (Lyrica) a couple of weeks ago, but I have not taken it because of the severe undesirable side effects. My primary care agrees that trying Celebrex first, to see if it works, is a better choice. Here’s hoping.
I did go out to pick up the prescription, but otherwise, it was just a day at home with nothing pressing to do. I loved it. And I am so appreciative of friends and family who are supporting me during this trying time. The medical advice and help with Shadow are much appreciated. With a little help from family and friends, I will make it through this.
by Judy Handley | Nov 27, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 331: Hosting My Wine Group
Date: Monday, November 27, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny: High 54, Low 32 F; Sunset 4:16 pm (-0 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
I continue to struggle with my back pain issues, but it didn’t stop me from hosting my wine club tonight.
Jonah came over after school to help me do a few things to get ready—Thank you, Jonah—and at 5 pm my gang arrived. We had a wonderful evening experiencing wines from Australia.
My wine group is a very special group of friends. Once they arrived, they did everything for me. I could just sit and enjoy.
by Judy Handley | Nov 26, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 330: Finally at Home
Date: Sunday, November 26, 2023
Weather: Sunny: High 48, Low 47 F; Sunset 4:18 pm; Sunset 4:16 pm (-1 min)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
I finally got home today around noon and I was so happy to see Shadow (and I think he was happy to see me too). I heard from Heather that they would be home get their Christmas tree on arrival so they could decorate tonight. Heather leaves on Wednesday and she really wanted to get the tree up before she left. I offered to fix dinner for them, but I had to have Jed come get the beef stew as it was too heavy for me to carry. He insisted that I come with him, rather than drive myself, so off I went.
I got to hear all about their trip to New York. They visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty on Friday morning and then headed to the 9/11. Friday was a little more light-hearted. They took the train from Larchmont, where they were staying with the Dearman’s, to Grand Central Station, and then toured Times Square, Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue, Wall Street, and Central Park where they took a horse carriage tour. All three boys really enjoyed their time in the city.
When I arrived the tree was up and the lights were on it. After dinner, the tree decorating started
and Ollie installed his train track around the tree
and the Christmas Lego land on the coffee table.
So I have now watched Justin and family decorate their tree and Heather an family decorate theirs.
My turn next!
Terry and Olivia White picked me up and took me to Hyannis for lunch and the concert. We met Bruce and Jane Woodin at Pain D’Avignon Restaurant and Boulangerie for a late lunch and then on to the concert. Lunch for me was Quiche Loraine with a salad and it was delicious.
I went with Terry and Olivia as Terry could drive me up to the door of the restaurant and the concert. Walking continues to be a major issue, but the Celebrex is helping take the edge off the pain.
What a strong voice! Her first solo was “Christmas on Cod.” Here’s the first and last verse to give you a taste of Christmas on Cape Cod.
It was certainly a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit.
