Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 Merry Christmas readers! As Twelfth Night approaches, let me fill you in on all that has happened since I last wrote.

As did so many folks I know, my husband and I hit our own reset button and mulled over our priorities while we quarantined at home during the Covid pandemic. We marveled at the money we were saving by not going out. We realized we could make do with much less and tried our best to safely support those in need of food and assistance, while staying contact-free. We also decided it was time to fix the house so we could plan a move in a couple of years. The punch list was made and completed in no time! When it was safe to travel, we took a house-hunting trip to Wilmington, NC and found the perfect house for us. It had everything we required--a master on the main level, a great kitchen, two rooms upstairs for our girls to visit, and a yard with a clean slate for the next chapters in our garden story. So in August, we moved!

Being retired afforded us the luxury of not worrying about working, unlike those on the front lines, and those who lost their jobs due to the shutdowns. We feel blessed to be in good health and we feel a commitment to do our part to keep others safe as well. We did have a family gathering at Christmas and I'm happy to report that all are well after our visit. As we looked for the silver linings the pandemic brought, we sorrowed with others who lost family members and friends during this sad time. We are grateful for the efforts of those front line workers, the doctors, nurses, hospital staff, grocery store workers and teachers, tradesmen and bankers, real estate agents and small business owners trying to keep things afloat. We look forward to better times filled with good health and happiness...and possibly a sequel to LUMINA coming sometime soon!

Below is a Christmas message I was inspired to write by my brother, who enjoys entertaining me with the most imaginative birthday cards he creates. This year's card had only four-letter words! I thought the idea was a fitting sentiment for 2020, so I continued on his word play just for fun!

 

All the Flinns at home in Wilmington, NC