[redwitch]

Sadly, we have to forego our Christmas tradition this year but certainly hope to do it again next year. We used to make a day of going to San Francisco. First, we would make small gift bags with a sandwich, pack of cigarettes, a pair of socks, a little bit of candy and cookies and a small fun gift. Then we would take BART (our rapid transit system) to the City. We'd pass out our bags to the first 10 homeless people we saw. Then we'd go and look at all the store windows, especially Saks with it's puppies up for adoption. By then, we'd be nice and chilly and head over to the Hyatt for hot chocolate. Then it was time to find an ornament for each of us for our tree. A late lunch and then back home.

The most magical time was when we gave bubbles as the fun gift. As we were walking back to get our hot chocolate, we walked through trails of bubbles. It was beautiful!

This will only be the second time we've ever missed doing it in the past 16 years. The first time was also because I'd had surgery and didn't quite have the strength to do it.