The last two days I have been working to get the rest of my out of town families’ Christmas gifts wrapped and boxed and finish my Christmas cards. Each year I keep making promises to myself, I would get started early and not run into this situation of rushing to get their boxes and card in the mail. As I stood in line at the post office today with my final boxes to mail, I listened to other people’s comments about their waiting till the last minute to mail their packages.

The post office staff was very courteous, but you could tell they were tired from going so fast all day long. I could relate to them as I was tired from rushing all day long.

I did take time today to have lunch with a dear 88 year old friend. Each year for the past 8 years, we have had a Christmas lunch together and exchange gifts. I admire my friend’s endurance and strengths. She is still a ball of fire. She manages to get up at 4 AM to bake dozens of cookies, attending church meetings and clubs she belongs to and then go home and make more batches of cookie dough. She flies each month for a few days out of town to visit relatives. She belongs to a close nit family. She had to stop driving 6 months ago and her family and myself drive her to do errands. She is amazing women. She has been recognized by the Kiwanis for the Unsung Hero award. At the rate she is going she will probably out live me. She tells me that the secret to long life is staying active. Well, Betty, no grass is growing under your feet, that is for sure.

This evening, I finally felt a sense of relief of all the stress I have been under. I felt great to sit and talk to my daughter this evening in a relaxed manner. We talked about many things including my diabetes. She has been concerned about me and the way I have been lack on taking good care of myself. She promised to help me with some of the housecleaning during her Christmas break from school.

I am looking forward to the family Christmas parties this weekend. Getting to see relatives I haven’t seen in a year. The temptations of all the holiday party food is going to be very hard as many of the family bring lot so sweet. Will have to be careful with what I eat that will affect my blood sugar. I just wish I was able to go see my Mom for Christmas as I miss her so much and she just celebrated her 86th birthday last week and I could not be there.