[Suzi]

WOW this is turning out to be more difficult than I expected. Closing up the village home for a couple of weeks initially I thought was fine. Put up a few decorations and "play at the idea it was Christmas". A few Christmas parties that were wonderful....OK now to fly home.......what a mess of weather. Feet of snow to get to the house that is just plain freezing. Place needed a real good cleaning so start that.....and find all the heavy clothes because, damn its cold here. Nothing to eat here either. Refrig and cupboards are empty
Now the craziness on the streets and in the malls is palpable. I full realize it is Christmas here. Not the "gee its cute" in TV shopping centers. Here it is the hard-core "i saw those lights on sale before you" kind of lovely fun. I have to start back to work with all the pent-up desires for people who HAVE TO BEEN SEEN before Christmas.
It is so cold and dry,,, I am beginning to feel like a prune already. Bottles of lotion......and sneezing and bloody noses. Wake up during the night....look around.....where am I? Morning comes....no sunshine....just more dark. Light doesn't arrive until 9 am but generally arrives with snowflakes instead of sunbeams.
The lists of things to get together before the kids and grandkids arrive is monumental. Out to the grocers but drive slow on the ice and snow-laden roads. Don't forget anything or you'll be driving in again. Kids only like carrots.....huh....how many ways to make carrots so everyone is happy. Haven't started wrapping yet......too tired to do at night. I'm shooting for morning and a fresh day but remember I have to work and its not light until 9 am.
Think I'll forgo Christmas cards in favor of New Years. That I can handle, I think, from Florida.
I'm really missing my new Florida friends. Don't get me wrong, I love my family and friends here at home but the holiday frenzy is going to kill me. I've gotten used to the Florida pace of activities and the lack of the things I "hafta Do".
After the New Year, I'm going to have to review the decision to be snowflakes, as we are called. It may require more energy than I thought I
had.
Any advice from those who have been here?