This is
another blog written from an airport! Coming to you live (not quite) from the
SFO International Airport! After spending a week in Half Moon Bay with mom and
enjoying the sun and sand I find myself heading back to The Netherlands to rejoin
my regular life just in time for New Years! Before I get into the meat of this
blog I want to send a huge thank you to Mom’s close friend Chris, who lent us
his beach home in Aptos while he was away. Thank you is simply no enough. For
Mom and I, week together over the holidays in such a nice place was beyond
wonderful and absolutely just what we needed. I appreciate it so very much and
I promise we left it just how it was. We
added oven mitts and a few odds and ends to your kitchen in gratitude, but the
real thankfulness is in our hearts. I am
even taking a bit of lavender I cut from the bush outside back with me. Thank
you thank you thank you for being so generous! It made our holidays better than
we could have ever expected.
SO, upon
arrival at our beach getaway house, Mom and I got straight to work. We set up
our tiny metal miracle tree, put lights up outside, wrapped presents and
attached a bulbous wreath to the front gate. We didn’t come to mess around; we
were together and Christmas was finally here! The very next day Cousin Kelly
and Uncle Mike rolled into town with their suburban packed to the max with
holiday baking materials. Shortly there after the rest of the Foster family
arrived and we had ourselves a “good ol’ FAMILY Christmas!’, which of course
included Aunt Susan in charge of the booze department, Kelly making Turkey
Chili, Uncle Jim and John scheming how to sneak homemade fudge and the rest of
us busy eating! We watched A Christmas Vacation , chatted, lit a fire
and played board games making for a really cozy evening together. I honestly
cannot remember when the last time we were all together like that! It was so
much fun! Thank you all for coming to see us! 
The next
morning, us early-birds (Kelly and I) were up far to early, thanks in part to a
hefty 9 jet-lag, and the kicked off a baking extravaganza for the ages. Between
us 3 girls (Mom, Kelly & I), we must have made over 1,000 cookies in 15
hours! No joke. Maybe to some it sounds like a nightmare, but boy did we have
fun! Outside it poured rain and we baked, Mike built a fire and watched movies
and ran to the store for last minute items and we baked, the radio played
Adel’s new album and she sang and we danced and baked! Around noon the rain
broke so we did too for a quick stroll down on the sand, but when the clouds
returned to the sky we returned to the kitchen to finish what we started.
Finally as we were finishing up around 10pm, I thought I’d never want to see
the inside of that kitchen again! We divided up the loot between us and made
treat baskets for…well probably everyone we know…and their dog…and their dogs
friends…
The
following day Kelly and Mike loaded up and headed home leaving Mom and I to plan
our Christmas Eve and morning, which I might add was much enjoyed. We went to
the spa, did some exploring and walked on the beach every chance the weather
allowed. On Christmas Eve, the two of us went to fabulous candle light service
at a church recommended to us by a local hairdresser, which we REALLY enjoyed.
It was a lovely venue with a great service and before hand there was an
optional short “Remembrance Service” to honor those that could not be with us
this Christmas.
I was surprised to see so many
people there. It reminded me that there is loss everywhere, and in some places
more than others. We all lit individual candles for those we missed and Mom and
I lit three: one for Grams, one for Dad and of course one for Spud. Except for
Neil’s memorial I have never been in a room filled with so many tears. It
sounds sad, but it wasn’t. It was cleansing and gratifying and peaceful to take
20 minutes and dedicate them to a memory we usually try so hard to avoid.
As we joined the rest of the
congregation for the regular Christmas Service, I could tell who had been in
the Remembrance Service. We had make-up smeared eyes, crunched tissues clutched
in our fists and noses to put Rudolf to shame, but we were there. I can’t speak
for all those people, but at least for me I also had a lighter heart, because I
knew I could cry all I wanted, but Neil was already there with us.
After the service,
Mom and I headed home, made dinner, watched Alvin & the Chipmunks,
played Rummicube and were in bed by 10pm. What a treat! The next morning
“Santa” had come, so we had ourselves a quiet Christmas morning together and,
of course, after stockings and presents we went down to walk on the beach! That
is a Christmas first for me! That afternoon Patrick arrived bringing even more
joy to our day! After a short reunion the three of us piled in the rental car
and went to John and Kristen’s home for Christmas dinner. Kristen’s sister and
parents were also there making for a completely full house! Of course the food
and company were amazing and we polished off the evening with home made coffee
cake (Dad’s favorite!) and vanilla ice cream.
On our last
day at the beach Patrick, Mom and I went for a final coastal walk and explored the
old abandoned ship sitting at the end of the pier. I imagine it had been there
a very long time judging by the sate of it, making it cool and creepy at the
same time. We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting some more, cleaning up
our living quarters and attempting to tetras pack all of our things into our
suddenly too small suitcases…funny how that happens…The next morning we were
all so sad to leave the beach house and each other, but I suppose the show must
go on! It really was such a wonderful week. I couldn’t have imagined better. Good
idea Mom!
Now, in
other news, I have (as usual for this time of year) gotten my New Year’s
Resolutions in order!! OMG SOOOOOOO excited (as always) about that! SO here is
a bit of what’s in the works for 2016 (including other things):
- · Take a trip to the South Pacific (Katherine, Meghan, Maiyan, Chris & Matthew here I come!)
- · Graduate
- · Find new music for my runs (suggestions please!!)
- · Color & journal more often
- · Meditate regularly (roll-over from last year…)
- · Pay one compliment per day
- · Bless my meals before I eat them
Ok everyone, that’s all for me! Did anyone else make
resolutions this year? Let me know! Please shoot me an email if you have time
to fill me in about your Christmas’ and New Years’ plans! I am sending lots of
love and hugs to you all as always.
Take care you special people you! J
xoxo
