Alma's Got Me Thinking About Putting Up My Annual Christmas Light Display & Going To Mexico

Alma's Christmas Lighting

Alma, the Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast, sent me this photo this morning saying, "This is what I'd do if I lived in a house next to a house."

My only Christmas decoration is a little red stocking tree ornament my Grandma crocheted for me years ago.

I have never lived in an abode with a Christmas tree ever since I escaped living with my mom and dad.

I have never put any Christmas decorations on any house I've lived in. This frustrated my mom with the house I lived in in Mount Vernon, due to the fact that that house had 3 flat roofs, on three levels, with the edges easily accessed by simply walking out onto the roofs.

My mom could not understand why I would not put up lights. I think it embarrassed my mom that mine was the only house in the entire neighborhood of East Thunderbird not to have any Christmas decorations.

One year my mom brought over a big box of Christmas lights and told me I now had no excuse not to put up lights.

My Computer Monitor Christmas Ornament

I took some of my mom's lights and made a Star of David and put that up on top of the carport. I told my mom now the neighbors will think the reason I put up no lights is because I'm Jewish.

I don't think my mom understood, because she said something like, "Well, at least now you've got some Christmas lights up."

That is my one and only Christmas decoration, currently decorating my computer monitor screen.

My Grandma who crocheted my sole Christmas decoration has been gone since 1994. I can't believe that is already 18 years ago. Grandma's birthday was December 16. Every year this meant a family Christmas deal up in the Lynden zone, near the Canadian border. It'd be a combo Grandma Birthday and Christmas Party.

The year 2000 was the last year I had any relative interaction on Christmas. I was in Yuma for Christmas that year, with my mom and dad. Christmas Eve my dad drove us through Yuma's best decorated zone. It was warm, people were outside barbecuing, luminarias were all over the place, creating a cool glow.

Christmas morning started with 99 cent breakfast at a Yuma casino, named Paradise. Then it was on to Mexico, to Algodones, to do some Christmas shopping. That was a fun Christmas.

My Mom's Happy Birthday In Eugene Oregon With My Texas Swimming Birthday Suit

You are looking at me and my mom and dad. In Yuma, Arizona, Christmas Day, a few years ago.

Today, 68 years ago, my mom had a happy birthday when her oldest baby was born, in Eugene, Oregon.

A few days ago a package arrived from my mom and dad. I had it on my to-do list to call my mom today, after I opened that package, but before I could do that mom called me, this morning.

I wished mom a happy birthday, told her I'd not opened the package yet. Said I would call later, after I had opened the package.

After I talked to my mom I got a comment to the earlier blogging about this being my Happy 68th Birthday. The comment was from Anonymous, claiming to be a relative of mine.

This is what Anonymous said...

Enjoy your 68th birthday, it just seems like you turned 56 a year ago, however....either way you are still one of my oldest (and for sure, wisest) living relatives.

To which I counter-commented....

Anonymous, you are a relative impostor. Your impostor-ness made obvious due to the fact that none of my living relatives think I'm wise. And, very kind of you to point out that I've aged 12 years since last year's calculation of my age.

To which Anonymous counter-counter-commented...

It takes a wise relative to recognize a wiser one!

When I got the Anonymous comment I saw the comment was made when someone who's IP address registers as Oak Harbor, Washington, was on the blog.

So, when I called my mom to thank her for the singing card, shirts, and other stuff, I asked what relative of ours lives in the Oak Harbor zone, or on Whidbey Island. The only names my mom came up with were very improbable perpetrators of the Anonymous comment. I asked my mom who among our relatives could possibly think me wise? My mom agreed that it seemed very far-fetched that such a relative existed.

Continuing with the birthday blogging theme. Today I've gotten some Happy Birthday messages delivered in electronic form other than a telephonic device.

The running theme seems to be me and my birthday suit. Tess S asked, "What about your birthday suit? Bev L asked, "What color is your birthday suit?" CVB suggested, "Now you can really take a swim in your birthday suit." Alice O asked, "Is it birthday suit all day? Covers eyes 'n giggles."

In addition to swimming in my birthday suit it's been suggested I get a massage to relieve my extreme tensions, go see a movie, veg out watching TV all day, while eating bon bons, go out for lunch, go out for dinner, I forget what else.

Thank y'all for the suggestions. As you can see I heeded the birthday suit swim suggestion. While snorkeling. In addition to the birthday suit swimming I went out for lunch. I have not had any bon bons, nor will I. I'm really not all that certain I know what a bon bon is.

I need to go back outside and brave the 106 degree Heat Index. I will not be able to wear my birthday suit on this particular outdoor operation as it involves going into a place of business that would frown upon someone being way too comfortable in the HEAT.