2025 Life Logs, Day 358: Happy Christmas Eve
Date: Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Weather: Sunny in Falmouth, Snow in Maine; High Temp 33, Low 16 degrees F
Location: At Home on Dover Road in Boothbay, Maine

Today I traveled from sunny Falmouth to sunny Boston and drove through a snow storm to Portsmouth, New Hampshire before traveling on to Boothbay, Maine. I had an early lunch with my friend Leslie in Portsmouth before dashing northward in the snow. But minutes later, I drove over the border into Maine where the storm had passed and the roads were almost dry. The views of a winter wonderland were spectacular and got even more beautiful the closer I got to the farm in Boothbay.

I arrived safely but ran into a snag. Heading up the hill to Jed’s mother’s home, I hit a sheet of ice and the car started sliding backwards. I braked, stopped before going completely off the road, and just sat there for a moment. Then I saw Heather come out of the house. I could tell she saw my predicament, so I sat patiently while she rounded up Sam, Jonah, Ollie, and Jed’s brother Toby. They decided that Ollie, the youngest and lightest in weight, was the best bet for driving while they pushed. He has driven so many vehicles on Xbox, learning all the tricks of driving in difficult situations, that we thought he could do it. It took a few tries and the use of roofing shingles under the front tires to finally reach the top of the hill. But they got my little Honda Fit into the parking area in front of the house. Way to go, driver Ollie and pushing crew.

The sun was setting as we were unloading the car full of Christmas presents. It was gorgeous, so I stopped to get a photo of the farmhouse below. That photo captures the beauty of Maine perfectly.

It truly looks like a winter wonderland here. But I soon learned that the snowstorm had knocked out power at 3 am in the morning and it is still not back on as I write this log. We have a few lights by using a generator, a small wood stove in the living room for heat and that we are using to melt pots of snow for water and that served as a cookstove to heat up the ham for dinner. No electricity makes things a bit challenging and overnight will be chilly as there is no heat downstairs where all of the bedrooms are located. But we managed to have a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner with pre-dinner Christmas songs played on the antique crank-styled victrola. Happy Christmas Eve to all!

2025 Life Logs, Day 357: The Final Christmas Rush
Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Weather: Overcast, Rain Beginning Late Afternoon; High Temp 40, Low 36 degrees F
Location: Back Home with My Shadow on Lakeview, Falmouth, MA

Wrapping presents, and then wrapping more presents, last minute Christmas shopping, loading the car with bins filled with my presents as well as Heather and Jed’s, meeting with Billy (my new neighbor) and Andy (who lives across the street) who are going to share Shadow duties while I am in Maine, packing for Maine, cleaning house as Billy’s parents are coming from Minnesota and his brother from Boston to have Christmas day with him. I offered my dining room to them as Christmas dinner for four in the studio apartment might be a bit tight. I leave at 7 in the morning, go to Heather’s to feed their cats and pick up the last Christmas bits, and head to Portsmouth, NH, to have lunch with my friend Leslie. The weather might be a wee bit challenging tomorrow, as they are supposed to get snow in Portsmouth and in Booth Bay tonight. The snow is supposed to end in Portsmouth early morning, but it continues in Booth Bay until noon or so. I will wait in Portsmouth until it is safe to travel on, but I am hoping to be in Booth Bay well before dark so we don’t have to unload the carload of presents in the dark. So to bed it is for me now. Tomorrow is going to be along day.

2025 Life Logs, Day 355: Winter Solstice and Revels
Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025
Weather: Sunny; High Temp 47, Low 23 degrees F
Location: At the Sheraton Commander Cambridge

This ‘darkest day’ was spent reveling in Cambridge. As we have done for many, many years, Heather, Jed, Sam, Jonah, Ollie and I headed to Cambridge this afternoon to attend the 2025 Midwinter Revels at the Sanders Theatre on the Harvard campus. This year, as in the past two years, Jed’s mother Marti drove down from Maine, and his brother Toby and Toby’s significant other , Stephanie, flew in from Portland, Oregon, to meet us at the theatre. And this year, Marti’s brother John joined us. So, this annual trek to Cambridge to Revels is becoming a growing family tradition.

This year’s production was A Scandinavian Story for Christmas, inspired by Gregory Maguire’s Matchless. The blend of storytelling, joyous music, and song and dance is the perfect way to celebrate the darkest day and usher in the new year. Shouting “WELCOME YULE” together with everyone in the theatre and then dancing from our seats to the lobby with everyone in the theatre holding hands is always so much fun. Since we actually attended on solstice this year, all of us were greeted in the lobby at intermission with prosecco to make a toast to the new year. I think this Revels was my favorite to date.

And as we did last year, afterwards we had a wonderful Indian dinner at The Maharaja in Harvard Square. Then, just as we did last year, we made our way to the Sheraton Commander for a nightcap in their bar before heading up to our rooms for the night. The dinner and overnight stay is Marti’s Christmas gift to us all, and what a wonderful gift it is.

2025 Life Logs, Day 354: Party, Party
Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
Weather: Sunny; High Temp 42, Low 39 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

One of my favorite Christmas albums is Frank Sinatra’s Christmas Waltz. The lyrics go something like this:

“It’s that time of year when the world falls in love
Every song you hear seems to say Merry Christmas
May your New Year dreams come true
And this song of mine in three-quarter time
Wishes you and yours, everyone
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
May your every New Year dream come true …”

The lyrics and cadence of this song played over and over in my head this evening as I went from party to party celebrating the holiday spirit. Indivisible Falmouth sponsored a holiday party at 5 pm today and we had a wonderful turnout. Indivisible Falmouth members are a hugely diverse group of people. I loved being greeted at Grumpy’s Pub, Falmouth’s consummate dive bar, by Rabbi Emeritus of the Falmouth Jewish Congregation and one of my favorite people. We drank beer, ate pizza, collected money for Falmouth’s immigrant population being targeted by Ice, and danced to the music of Club 9 Ball. I could stay only for the first hour because I didn’t want to be late to Heather and Jed’s solstice party. Fall officially ends and winter begins tomorrow morning, so Heather and Jed invited all of their friends to come celebrate together. For this annual jam-packed party, Jed always makes gravlax, and Heather always makes her yule log, now with the help of Ollie. These two foods have become my holiday favorites.

The solstice celebration was a wonderful chance to eat great food, and to connect with new as well as old friends. Which brings me back around to the lyrics of Frank Sinatra’s Christmas Waltz, “It’s that time of year … ”

2025 Life Logs, Day 352: Shopping, Public Policy, Wine Group, FHS Concert
Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Warm; High Temp 50, Low 48 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

Today was a whirlwind. I had nothing on my calendar this morning, so I took the opportunity to drive to Mashpee Commons to return a sweater I bought for myself a few weeks ago. I loved it, but it just didn’t fit right. So, I pampered myself by returning it and buying two to replace it! I also had to do some grocery shopping and while on Main Street to pick up a baguette for the gravlax, I did a little extra Christmas shopping before heading home.

It was almost 1 pm when I got home to get the gravlax appetizer ready to take to my 5 pm wine group holiday gathering. I have never made gravlax before, and somehow it was just not as good as Jed’s, but it was passable. I got it sliced and arranged on a platter with all the condiments, put the platter in my car, and headed to my monthly Exploring Public Policy meeting. Today’s presenter was Jessica Whritenour from the 300 Committee, speaking about land preservation in Falmouth. I knew I couldn’t stay for the last 20 minutes of the meeting, but I am so glad I went anyway. Her presentation was extremely informative.

But I snuck out during the Q&A and headed to the wine group party. I could only stay there long enough to present my wine and appetizer, participate in the Yankee exchange, and take a group photo before I had to leave to go Falmouth High School for the winter concert.

I look forward to this every year, and this year was special because both Jonah and Ollie were playing. There are about four middle school students who are invited to play with the high school jazz band, and Ollie is one of those. Jonah plays trombone and Ollie plays tenor sax. Jonah played with the concert band and the jazz band, but Ollie played only with the jazz band. The director, Andrew Hellwig, does a phenomenal job. I am so grateful for all of the Falmouth educators who work so hard to provide a quality education for our children.

Sam flies into Boston tomorrow evening!!! The weather looks frightening with rain and heavy winds in the afternoon, but if the forecast remains as it is now, the winds calm a couple of hours before he is scheduled to land. Hopefully there is no delay. I really am so anxious to see him.

2025 Life Logs, Day 351: Meeting, Meeting, Cookies, Concert, More Cookies
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Weather: Cloudy, Significantly Warmer; High Temp 48, Low 44 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

My meetings today were an Encore Board meeting followed by a meeting with my neighbor Andy to discuss Shadow dog sitting. The good news is that Andy will take Shadow to his house on Sunday when I head to Cambridge for Revels. I will return on Monday and pick up Shadow. Then when I leave on Wednesday for Christmas in Maine, Andy will once again take Shadow until my new neighbor Billy gets home from work on Christmas Eve to watch over Shadow until I return on Friday. Or if Any and Shadow are having a great time, maybe Andy will keep him at his house the whole time. However this turns out, I owe a big thank you to Andy and Billy for their willingness to take care of my Shadow. I know he will be well taken care of in my absence.

I then turned my attention to turning the chocolate crinkle dough Heather and I made last night into yummy cookies. And before they were completely cool, I headed to Lawrence Middle School for Ollie’s Winter Concert. He looked so handsome in his new black shirt and pants. Growing up way too fast.

And after the concert, I assisted Heather in turning the remaining sugar cookie dough into Christmas tree, star, and snowman Christmas cookies. I got home just in time to watch Donald Trump’s speech to the nation. No comment.

2025 Life Logs, Day 350: Making a List and Checking It Twice
Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Cold; High Temp 26, Low 21 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

I have had a To Do list that just gets longer and longer. But today happened to be the deadline for a number of things on that list. So, I worked on those things, got them done, and checked them off. The piles of books and papers are still stacked around the house, but the To Do is much shorter. One of the things that had to be done by today was sending Christmas packages to Puerto Rico. I sent one package yesterday but was having trouble figuring out how to send everything I wanted to send in just one more package. The cost of two more Priority Flat Rate Large boxes was outrageous, and the boxes were not big enough for everything. Today I started where I left off yesterday by getting on the computer and searching for a cheaper way to send things. I found that the US Post Office has a Click n’ Ship method where you measure and weigh the box at home, pay for the postage online, and then print your own shipping label. It took more time but saved about $20. I was able to send everything for less. That was a little win for today.

Tonight was another cookie making session at the Goldstones. I will bake one more batch tomorrow, but cookie making will then stop. From here until the new year, things are going to be happening fast and furiously. Tomorrow I have an Encore Board meeting and tomorrow night is Ollie’s middle school band concert. Thursday I have an Exploring Public Policy meeting, a holiday Wine Group get together, and that night is the high school concert where both Ollie and Jonah play.

Then Friday night, Sam comes home from the Netherlands!!! I cannot wait to see him. I sure hope college kids still give hugs to grandmothers. Saturday night is Indivisible Falmouth’s holiday party and Heather and Jed’s annual Solstice party. On Sunday we all head to Cambridge to go to Revels. For that, we will meet up with Jed’s mother and uncle, plus Jed’s brother Toby and his significant other, Stephanie. We will all spend the night in Boston, and on Monday I will drive home and the Goldstones will head on to Boothbay for Christmas. I will drive up to Boothbay on Christmas Eve and spend Christmas Day there before returning home on Boxing Day. Then I have one day to get ready for Justin and family’s arrival. Another “can’t wait to see them” moment. ‘Tis the season.

2025 Life Logs, Day 349: A Day Filled with Holiday Activity
Date: Monday, December 15, 2025
Weather: Sunny and Cold; High Temp 26, Low 21 degrees F
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue with My Shadow, Falmouth, MA

My day started with my ‘every morning’ walk with Shadow, but today it was cut short today because it seemed to be too cold even for my snow loving dog. We had hardly gotten across the street when Shadow started hopping on 3 legs. He could not put his left rear leg on the ground. I checked his paw to see if he had ice “between his toes” but I found nothing. But whatever I did, he was able to walk normally again for a bit before he started his 3 foot hop again. At this point, we headed home.

I had a Falmouth Immigrant Rights Coalition Zoom meeting at 9:30 am, and the meeting started with a guided tour of the Immigrant Resources that Justin got put up on the Indivisible Falmouth website this weekend. He got 12 important documents posted in 5 languages. These are documents that immigrants might need to access. People were very appreciative of what he had accomplished in such a short period of time, especially over a weekend. Thank you, Justin! Your efforts are truly appreciated.

Then I turned my attention to getting Christmas gifts ready to be sent to Puerto Rico for Justin and family. This required going to the Post Office to get a Priority Flat Rate box. I got that one packed but realized I needed another box. So, I headed back to the Post Office to send the one box and pick up another. I could not believe how much the cost of sending a flat rate has gone up. It used to cost $18, then $23, and now $30. And I think the box is smaller. I have given up my Amazon Prime membership as part of an economic boycott against Jeff Bezos, but I was really missing it today. I need to send two more boxes. Ouch!

After my second trip to the Post Office, I changed gears and got a chicken in the oven to roast for dinner for Ollie and Jonah tonight. Heather had Select Board tonight and Jed had his Health Board meeting. Ollie, Jonah, and I had nice dinner and then we worked on getting Christmas cookies baked. Heather made the sugar cookie dough last night, so all Ollie and I had to do was roll out the dough and do the cut outs. Then we made another cookie, the Hershey Kisses thumbprint cookies rolled in red and green sugar. Jonah joined us in making these cookies, but it is really Ollie who is still young enough to delight in making Christmas cookies. Still, I am just glad that Jonah still joins us for some of the fun.