Christmas is gone for another year. And I find that very depressing.
I love the holidays.....and I still believe in Santa. I love the house when it is decorated, but I moan and groan with every box of Christmas cheer I lug up from the basement. I like it because it is a good time of the year, a time to remember those less fortunate. A time for gathering of families and friends.
Of course, Julia comes home for Christmas which means our family is complete for a few short weeks.
Then poof....it's all gone. The glitter and ornaments are packed away. The dry tree is lugged into town and dumped at a tree recycling center. Julia is back in Switzerland. The pantry is slowly being emptied of sweet treats and I am gaining weight like a model who can't puke.
Seriously, why don't I have any will power? I see food and I eat. I don't have to be hungry, just breathing.
I am trying. I have stopped eating at 8 p.m. and now drink a glass of water or two before bed.
I'm 64. That means water and my prostate combine to cause sleep interuptus. And being in a new house, that is not good.
I almost peed in the closet one night! I could not for the life of me see though the fog of sleep (and truth be told, a half bottle of special wine from the Rouge) and walked into the closet. Lucky for me I could not find the light switch.
I nearly put a grill together today. Nearly. I remember when my folks were older and I would go and do things for them because they were too weak, eyesight was too bad, they were just unable to follow the directions.
God save me....I am them! Putting the grill together today I put two pieces on backwards. When the top didn't fit I had to take the parts off and put them on again. Emily had to come and show me what to do because the directions made no sense.
And those damn little screw holes! I could not see them so she had to do that.
But we got it together. It looks like it is supposed to. With the cost of beef rising, I'll be cooking lots of pork and chicken on it this spring and summer.
I just never expected to get old.
There are so many things I want to do in life that I won't be able to do because I did not make the effort or take the chance when I was younger. Downhill skiing. Hiking the Muir Trail. Taking a shot at making it in a professional improv comedy troupe. Driving Route 66. Dancing with Betty White. Finishing one of the books I have played with for months and years. Seeing polar bears in the wild. Watching a space launch. Living in New York City for one fall. Being King. Hiking from hut to hut in the Alps.
So if you are reading this, John in India, Kevin in Switzerland, Ivan in Russia,.... live life. Enjoy it now. Take that step and go after your dreams.
Because someday, believe it or not, you too will age.
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