After the ice melted from the roadways yesterday, I went to town to grocery shop, visit the library, pick up my new glasses, withdraw bank money, and see my father and sister.

Since I've been working on genealogy all week, I quizzed my dad on some things. His parents never talked about their ancestors much. Maybe dad never asked questions. Like I never once asked my mother's mother about her husband (my grandfather) who died (leukemia?)when my mother was only 6. Only his Will is left for posterity. What a shame. Why do we wait until it's too late to have the desire to discover the family history? I'm leaving lots of written material for my descendants!

When at my sister's, I asked her if she'd been listening to all the Christmas music airing on Purdue's FM Classical station. She expressed surprise that I listen to it, being that I'm not a religious person, etc. Hey, I said, you don't have to be a Christian to appreciate good music. There's nothing more moving or powerful than Handel's "For Unto Us a Child is Born." (Not to mention "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"!!) By the way, it's a great time of year to sing--just sing! Bellow out those Jingle Bells!

Later in the evening, I was moved to tears when two stories aired on the NBC nightly news. One was about all the heart-wrenching letters to Santa Claus sent to the Post Office. The other concerned a gathering of fatherless families in Pasadena to celebrate the holidays. I'm telling you, you can't help but get emotional seeing how bad other folks have it, and how lucky the rest of us are. (I refuse to use the word "blessed". Is the opposite "damned"? I don't buy that.)

Then I watched the 1947 movie, "The Bishop's Wife" with Cary Grant as the angel, Loretta Young (an idol of my mother), and David Niven. Fun movie, with a message, of course. Thanks to Judge Steve for alerting me to this classic.

Winter solstice is tomorrow! Days grow longer. Now that's reason to celebrate, at least for this heathen. AND...one month from today, no more GW Bush! More celebration!!