Visions of Sugarplums

Raised in a home where my father loathed Christmas and my mother, the complete opposite, loving all the dalliances of Santa, had me hurtling from this mix…all banged up. Soon as this time of year swings around I’m now up and down, sad and happy, excited and depressed, generous and scroogy, which has been this way for years and years. Thinking back though, I have to laugh… at both my parents. Forget Christmas stories, the stories those two have given me are enough to not only write forever, but keep them fresh in my spirit forever. 

To note, my parents recently passed away; my dad a couple of years ago, and my mother just a couple months ago. Thus, I am feeling a great loss… in part the inspiration behind this post. 

Listen, I like to believe balance is the key to achieving harmony. It’s the sweet spot where the good and bad, highs and lows line up, or meet …and blend. My mom being a person who believed dreaming was important, and my father being Mr. Reality all day long, really fed …and fueled my imagination. Some of our Christmases were just downright interesting.

At any rate, this year I’m surfing a see-saw again. Aside from wrapping my spirit around all my parents have given me, I’m also trying ever so hard to wrap my mind around the fact that the books I planned to publish this year, must be pushed into the next year…2026. Ouch! That hurts!!!

And yet, there izzzzz a sweet spot. I wasn't sure. Was all kinds of skeptical... but hopeful... having no idea if I had a book in one of my unread piles that would get me through the month. And then it happened, so unexpectedly. I met my reading goal for the year! 

Now, my reading goal this year was only 20 books, but let’s not move the goalpost. It was not easy finding 20 books to read in its entirety, and be so inspired to share with other readers in the first place. But this month has proved to be a mixed blessing, in terms of reading...and for a number of reasons. In short, I was about to let my reading goal slide on by too. Except looka' here... I just finished reading ‘Late Admissions’ by Glenn C. Loury (thoughts here). ‘Unchartered’ by Chris Whipple (thoughts here). ‘Educated’ by Tara Westover (thoughts here). And ‘All My Knotted Up Life’ by Beth Moore (thoughts here).

My only task now. Selecting my top 10 favorites!!!

Merry Christmas

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