Day: December 15, 2018

Tie o’ the Day reminds us of the proverbial “reason for the season” of Christmas. Tie’s scripture is from Psalms 16:11. Tie is joined by a nativity scene Christmas tree ornament created by my Grandma, Zola Wright. (She was Momo to her grandkids.) I do believe her craft imagination exceeded even Suzanne’s. Who woulda thunk to make this ornament? Momo.

This little nativity scene is set in milkweed pods. I remember this decoration from as far back as I can remember anything, so it’s probably at least fifty years old. It is now in extremely fragile condition, so I am overly protective of it. I bring it out for a short time each Christmas season, and I gingerly put it away in its private box until the next year. The box is made of wood– strong enough to protect this precious item from being crushed, or otherwise harmed.

Although this nativity scene was made to be a Christmas tree ornament, I don’t hang it on the tree. I’m afraid it might accidentally fall to the floor and shatter. I’m equally afraid the character figures might simply give up the glue ghost and fall out. I lay it on its back. Momo made this before the advent of crafty glue guns, and the Elmer’s glue which she used is not holding all the figures to the pods anymore. I’m quite amazed that the gold rick-rack still adheres as a frame for the nativity. (I don’t have plans to re-glue things. I’m keepin’ it real.)

The ornament is kitschy, I know. But it reminds me so much of how Momo enjoyed her projects. She was perpetually in the midst of creating art pieces out of tidbits and scraps. I miss how excited she was to display the treasures she built. The shelves in her house were filled with her wonders to behold, especially to kids. Momo was an elegant, humble woman, but she was a proud show-off when it came to her crafts.

Bow Tie o’ a Few Days Ago sports Santa and a snowperson. Ties o’ a Few Days Ago give us a snowboarding polar bear, a snowboarding Santa, and Santa and his wifey bringing home their Christmas tree. Why the penguins are on top of the Claus’s car, I have no idea. I especially have no idea why they are seat-belted to the Christmas tree. But hey, it’s a jolly scene.

I snapped this photo earlier in the week, when I was still able to put my ties around my neck and tie them. Glad I did that. I pride myself on my post photos being taken on the day I post them. I like you to see what I’m actually wearing on that day– or what I wore the evening before on some outing. It helps make my posts “true” or maybe “authentic” is a better word. I also don’t write my posts ahead of time, even if the pic is from something I did the night before.

But sometimes I do take a couple of “extra” photos to have “in case” I want to do a post and I’m– for some reason– unable to use my phone camera, or will be somewhere I don’t have access to different ties to put on. A pre-taken pic in my media library comes in handy. Like today, when I can’t lift my arm to perform tie things. Stoopid, stoopid roto cuff. I want it roto-rootered.

I know it’s not even Christmas yet, but I’ve already made my New Year’s resolutions. Really it’s just one resolution: For 2019, I resolve to have no more health issues. I’m going to grit my teeth, and I’m going to will myself to keep aging pains from happening– as well as any other type of injury or ailment. It is my sole goal. I know I’m pretending I have control over my falling-apart body, but I pretend a lot of things. Delusions? Rationalizations? Tilting at windmills? All of the above.

Personally, I think the very act of making resolutions is where the real power is. Whether we accomplish our goals or not, making them means we are examining ourselves. It means we’ve looked at ourselves and we’ve identified ways in which we want to be better. Looked at from that perspective, resolutions are like bullet points on a list. They are the highlights of what we think we most need to improve about our souls and our little corner of the world. Being self-aware is the kind of thing that improves us a bit, without us even consciously doing anything else. You’re a better person, just by knowing yourself better. But don’t stop there. Accomplish your change.

I am not a whiner, but this year has been a painful body fail for me. I’ve had enough. If I can achieve my New Year’s resolution, I will be relieved to not have to feel my body’s decrepitness. And more importantly, you will feel extremely relieved to not have to read about it.

HOLIDAY TIE TALLY: 56 Bow ties. 114 Neckties.