Thoughts on Christmas

I have been thinking a lot about Christmas lately.  Who hasn’t?  While I am not “old” yet, I have been around for a lot of Christmases.  There are a lot of things which have changed over the years, and a lot of other things which are the same.  One thing that hasn’t changed over the many Christmases of my life time is the interest in special treats for the holiday.  My mom was one who loved to make holiday treats.  She made holiday breads, candies, cookies, and even a sweet roll Christmas wreath.  I was usually her helper, being the only daughter, and have fond memories of making treats with Mom.  Many of the treats were gifts for the neighbors.  She would even leave a loaf of sweet bread on the mailbox for the mailman and one on our garbage can at the curb for the garbage man.  I don’t make many of those treats any more, but one of my daughters really likes the cookies we used to make with a cookie press (which I now own) and my other 2 daughters love the peanut butter fudge.  Occasionally we make some of the treats that my mom did, and we always think of my mom when we do. Even my nieces and nephews think of Grandma when they make the family’s traditional treats.

Shopping for gifts or making gifts is still the norm for Christmas, even though malls were not around when I was younger.  I would have enjoyed going to the mall just to see the decorations then, now I try at all costs to avoid the mall at Christmas time.

Christmas lights are the same and yet different now.  I used to love when we would pile into the car (without seatbelts) to drive around the wealthier parts of town to see the decorated houses.  I loved one house that always looked like a castle from a distance.  Now, we go to a place that has light displays, where we pay to drive around slowly and let the grandkids ohhh and ahhh over the lighted reindeer jumping over the road and a large Santa waving at us.  I would probably make my husband take me each year to see the lights even if we didn’t have grandkids around to go with. 

As our lives become more busy and hectic, it seems harder each year to take time to remember the reason we celebrate the season.  I pulled out some nativity storybooks today to read to my grandchildren tonight as we go to see the lights, so that we can talk about the real meaning of the things we do at this Christmas season. And when we are done, maybe we will come back here to drink hot chocolate and eat peanut butter fudge.

~Gayle

My Experience with Planks

Just over a month ago, a friend shared on Facebook a 30 day plank challenge.  It consisted of doing elbow plank exercises on a specified schedule for a month.  It included an illustration showing the ab, shoulder, back and arm muscles that are strengthened by doing planks, and said it is so easy that anyone can do it. Since midlife has not been kind to my midsection, I decided to take the challenge.  It started out okay, with slow increases in time to hold the position, but quickly accelerated at a pace I was not able to keep up with. My husband (a very patient man) kept saying to just proceed at the pace I could and not worry about keeping up with the now unattainable goal.  I kept falling further behind the goal, but kept trying daily to improve.  I actually started feeling stronger in my side muscles! Then, nearing the end of the 30 days, my bad shoulder started causing pain while doing the plank exercise.  I was now having trouble with sore elbows from the hard floor and slight rub burn as well.  I tried doing planks on pillows, blankets, even a foam pad.  One day I realized that I had calluses on the sides of my elbows, most likely from the planks.  The 30 days has now ended.  I am still trying to do planks most days of the week.  Was I successful in the challenge?  With a sore shoulder, callused elbows and not accomplishing the desired outcome, I am tempted to say no.  But then I remember the (only) day I was able to hold the position for 3 whole minutes, when before the challenge I could hardly hold it for 90 seconds.  I feel my sides and know there is more muscle there, hidden under the layer of fat, and I feel like maybe I am a midlife success.  But PLEASE don't send me any exercise challenges any time soon.

~Gayle