1.  our mail carrier who trudges around in all kinds of weather!

2.  the pharmacists who make sure we get the right medications

3.  the cashier at the drug store who is always friendly

4.  the gentleman who made a new cement segment in our walkway

5.  the farmers who grow so much of our food

6.  the writers who produce the books we love

7.  the bus drivers who get us where we want to go

8.  the waiters and waitresses who bring us our food in restaurants

9.  the cooks and chefs who make our food

10.  the shoe repair people who extend the lives of our shoes

And so many other people who help us as we make our way in our lives.  This list was inspired by Garrett!  And it’s the first time I ever made two lists in a row!  I just couldn’t stop thinking about his list from Dec. 8.

1.  book group this morning

2.  these five amazing women brighten my world enormously!

3.  we went out to lunch at a fun restaurant

4.  they surprised me with an early birthday party

5,  I was born on Christmas Eve and sometimes my birthday disappears

6.  but not this year!  my birthday season has started early!  hooray!

7.  we are reading Letting Go by David Hawkins – excellent!

8.  it is clear, informative, insightful, and powerful

9.  he wrote Power Versus Force, which includes muscle testing

10.  thank heavens for wonderful friends and terrific books — such a terrific combination!

I am not sure I ever met anyone with so many wonderful traits all in one person.  Here are some words that remind me of Ruth:

1.  welcoming and gracious

2.  interested and interesting

3.  knowledgeable and curious

4.  loyal and caring

5.  consistent and reliable

6.  persistent and indefatigable

7.  engaging and respectful

8.  creative and fun

9.  smiling and laughing

10.  thoughtful and LOVING

Ruth will be missed forever by all who had the privilege of knowing her.  She made this world a better place.  Godspeed, Ruth!

1.  Tom

2.  Kevin, Dyan, Nate and Andrew

3.  Maribeth

4.  Paparoonio

5.  Lynda, Erin, Sara, Annalise, and Luke

6.  The Island Girls

7.  our book group

8.  friends at Unity Chapel of Light

9.  neighbors and other friends

10.  Ruth and her family

11.  I am so grateful for the privilege of the wonderful  people in my life.

1.  sitting in the cafe at Barnes and Noble

2.  picking out journals for gifts — how fun!

3.  watermelon/strawberry juice to drink

4.  great people watching — hooray!

5.  losing weight so my pants keep dropping!

6.  but I don’t want to get new clothes until I hit my dream weight!  ha ha ha

7.  my son Kevin’s birthday was yesterday

8.  a wonderful celebration with family

9.  Kevin’s name means kind — and he sure is! — hallelujah!

10.  got a long purple Pendleton wool coat at the thrift store for $13 — yahoo!

1.  loving to look at people

2.  making fun and secret plans

3.  tasting the first Mandarin in a giant bag and finding out it is sweet

4.  my neon colored tennis shoes

5.  the first time out with my colorfully patterned mittens

6.  doing Zentangles in a new way with a friend

7.  visiting the Zentangle art show and taking lots of photos

8.  making plans with high school buddies

9.  remembering President Kennedy and still feeling the loss

10.  the privilege of everything

1.  babysitting grandsons

2.  books

3.  snacks

4.  comfortable shoes

5.  blue ballpoint pens

6.  rainbow watch

7.  cozy comforters

8.  trying new arts and crafts

9.  massage

10.  manicure

1.   the birds at our feeder

2.  notebook paper

3.  any art supplies

4.  possibilities

5.  getting gas when it has dipped in price

6.  apple cider

7.  starting a new book

8.  chimes

9.  light — as in being in the light  instead of the dark, and the literal light that comes from lamps, etc.

10.  my beloved family and friends

1.  getting the yard ready for Winter —

2.  goodbye fairy gardens

3.  goodbye hot pink Mandevilla blooms

4.  goodbye to my precious Heavenly Blue Morning Glories

5.  goodbye to my amazing Black-eyed Susan hanging basket

6.  goodbye to the glorious pale pink Hibiscus

7.  goodbye to the assorted pots of wonderful flowers

8.  goodbye to the variegated pink Coleus

9.  goodbye green edged pink Petunias

10.  goodbye friendly pink Begonias

Your memories will serve me all Winter long!

1.  All the kind help we’re getting in helping my Dad get set up with hospice

2.  He’s 96, and keeps saying no one should be allowed to live that long!

3.  I’ve been trying to convince him to live to 100, but he’s losing interest

4.  He has a magnet on his refrigerator that says, “I’m going to live to be 100”

5.  And he attached a little paper to it that says, “– to please Carol”

6.  When the hospice nurse came to get him registered on Friday morning

7.  He was very personable and amazing.

8.  I could tell she was falling in love with him (as most women do)

9.  He got up and started doing a little dance

10.  And she said, “you better watch out, or I will join you!”

11.  And he said, “please do!”

12.  So there was my Dad dancing with the hospice nurse on the very day he signed up to receive hospice services!

13.  He is not exactly terminal, and he will receive services in his apartment.

14.  My Paparoonio is beyond incredible!