And the last things I plan to say or show about that benighted year follows…and it’s almost all pictures. Holidays with family. Period.
I’ve already talked about Thanksgiving in Austin and the brand-new family addition: AT as I like to refer to her/him (short for AsborgTorgus which is how I’m forced to refer to The Kid since parents refuse to divulge any hints whatsoever of potential names).
In addition to meeting AT, the pure pleasure to me of hanging around my brilliant and beautiful grandchildren…all six in one place and even on their best behavior, at least until I retired for the evening after which they laughed really loudly at words and actions I probably wouldn’t have understood anyway.
Steven and I made it to a favorite cultural highlight of any trip on the first day–IKEA.
They actually are a lovely bunch…of whom I am ever so proud…one and all.
There’s a bonus to visiting Austin: it’s travel-buddy Celia’s home. And as my blog-readers know, granddaughters Teresa and Sara have been on Greenland and African journeys with Celia also. So here we are, happily remembering our adventures.
I did have just the smallest of pangs when remembering that for a few Thanksgivings I’ve had the combination of Teresa and travel all to myself and that’s now a thing of the past. But we ended that so perfectly in 2024 by combining the two for a week in Paris for a sort of grand finale of Adventures with Lace. Just the right time for me too, I suppose, since I’ve noticed myself scanning world maps with a touch less enthusiasm!
Can’t imagine any future Thanksgivings topping this this all-grandchildren-to-myself one. Thanks, nice humans.
Which leads me to Christmas. Which I’m really bad at. I’ve never gotten it even close to just right since my sons left home…and even before that I wasn’t so great at it. You know, the food all delicious, the gifts just what everyone wanted, the loving spirit of the holidays intact throughout. And Snow on The Ground…
Actually, Christmas 2025 was just fine. Steve made excellent biscuits and gravy for breakfast and gave me a fancy knife set. I’m now able to slice those big rustic loaves from Costco without having to rest between slices. There were plentiful photo ops with the three main gift recipients barking and mangling their presents with great abandon. We enjoyed each other’s pleasant company, and I happily declared my three hours of joyous winter holidays over.
You did the best you could, 2025 and I’m too old to regret times past. So, thanks and au revoir. Let’s don’t stay in touch. Well, wait. At this point, I don’t really want to remove any years from my projected lifespan. Maybe a postcard now and then would suffice to keep you in my life?