You Can Always Go Home Again...

Especially for the holidays

We just returned from two great and glorious weeks in Hawaii. It was relaxing and refreshing. I noticed that I was far enough away from home for my pains to subside, my stress level to drop, and I even slept better. Coming home was good, too, it always is, but it was cold and all that work that needed to be done was right there...waiting. On the bright side, it's time for the kids and grandkids to come by for dinner and gift giving and a little sherry and egg nog.

In Hawaii we reconnected with some old (really old) friends from 20 or 30 years ago. Most of them, like me, were in various stages of disease and decline but it didn't seem to matter. There were strokes, knee replacements, an abundance of arthritic pains, and even one friend with Stage 4 prostate cancer. He's in chemo and weakened but still has his irreverent, self-deprecating sense of humor and was constantly cracking jokes.

I came home inspired to be as strong as they all seemed. I intend to laugh more, focus less on my aches and pains, and especially to avoid morbid thoughts about my own mortality. Sounds like New Years Resolutions - time will tell.

So, Merry Christmas, Enjoy Life, and have a Healthy New Year

axman