I have been trying to stay focused and accomplish some of the tasks I’ve been putting off.

The tree’s up and decorated. I’ve contacted all of the folks from my condo association to sell them tickets to the COA’s Christmas party.

Yesterday, I wrote out a bunch of thank you notes to folks who helped with John’s celebration of life. It took me several hours because I made them all personal and detailed.

Today I used the Cologard kit and sent it by UPS to the company to test for colon cancer. I also got stamps for the thank you notes, and I went to the SCC Emergency Squad to turn in a contribution in John’s memory.

After that, I went out for a solo lunch at Beef O’Brady’s.

This afternoon I took the savings bonds I’ve been holding and started the procedure to cash them. Unfortunately the procedure is going to be quite involved because the bonds were issued to John C. Skaryd OR John Skaryd, Sr., and others were to John OR his mother. Mine were to me OR my mother, and there was one made out to John OR me. In each case where there are two names and one has died, I have to provide a certified death certificate. I can provide John’s and Mom’s, but not John’s dad’s or his mother’s certificate. I need to complete 14 pages of forms. It all takes time. I spent a couple hours today and there’ll be more spent before I can send the paper work in. I need John’s mom and dad’s death certificates first.

But I’m making headway.

Tomorrow I need to pick up the stuff I need to do for the Michigan Club. Again, that’ll be very time consuming.

I’ve been dreading the holidays. For Thanksgiving and Christmas, John and I had a tradition of cooking huge meals for just the two of us. We preferred to have our “dinner for two.” It was our choice but maybe we were wrong.

There were some years when Shelly and Richard Brooks had a large Thanksgiving gathering and some years, we volunteered at our church, but most years we had our own dinner.

This year is my first year without John. I’ve been concerned about the holidays. As Thanksgiving approached, I realized I had NO plans. Everyone had families coming or they were heading north.

A few days ago, friends asked what I’d be doing and realized I’d be alone. They had planned a dinner with another couple but now they’re setting a place for me. Nick and Pauline, I appreciate your generous gift to me.

Why am I posting this??? Because I’ve just figured out a solution.

For Christmas I’d like to open my doors to anyone who wants to share dinner with me. Singles or couples will get priority. I’ll put the turkey in my new oven and have others bring a dish to pass. I just know I don’t want to be alone. For Thanksgiving (especially since I badly sprained my ankle), it sounded like too much work, but I am walking better and maybe I can do it!!!

I’m not positive I’ll be able to handle it, but before December 25th, please make your tentative reservation at Sharon Skaryd’s. I figure I can crowd quite a few, but it’ll help to know how many to plan for. If it gets too big, I may have to cut off reservations but there’s always room for another person or two. Or maybe we’ll go out to dinner at a restaurant.

And if I don’t get any folks who want to come, I’ll figure out something else.

Or maybe folks who truly want to do cooking at their house can do what Nick and Pauline are doing and invite others.

Gradually I’ve been fixing up the condo. It’s really looking good.

Knox Aluminium finished up the roof over my back patio and I added outdoor carpeting so it really looks nice.

My new kitchen appliances (range, microwave and dishwasher) have been installed. It makes a lovely difference in the kitchen.

I’ve ordered a very full 7.5′ Christmas tree which will be here before Thanksgiving. John’s good buddy, Bob Bemis, said he’ll help me put it up since I don’t think I can do it alone. A glorious Christmas tree has always been the highlight of my holiday season. John’s health didn’t allow him to help put up a big one so I pretended it wasn’t important, but this year I’m going grand!

I have purchased several live plants for the great room. I’ve done some rearranging so the tree can be centered in the middle of the sliders and seen from outside. The coffee table I brought from Michigan will need to be relocated and can either go under the side window in the great room or in the dining room. My harp has been moved so it’s more visible.

I hope to make a few more of my lovely crocheted ornaments so I can include them.

I told her she could stay forever, but she headed back to her sweet husband in Monterey, CA. Sadly she’s heading into the smoke caused by the California fires.

We had a great two weeks which flew past. We did almost everything I had hoped to do. We got her KP badge for her so now she’s officially an owner, I brought her up to speed on how she’d take over here, if I was out-of-commission. We went to Little Harbor, karaoke, restaurants, shopping, more shopping, swimming pools, bingo on Saturday night, Busch Gardens, and we hosted a lovely “Celebration” of John’s life. We watched a couple movies each day (previously I rarely watched any alone), but it was fun together.

The place is quiet, but today the workers from Knox Construction are putting the roof over my patio. It’s a two-day project.

It’ll be a nice place to relax and enjoy the scenery. I ordered four outdoor rugs to make it prettier. I’m going to love it.

I feared that the roof-line would interfere with my view and cut down on the light in the greatroom but somehow it makes it cozier. I’m glad I’m having it added.

This place is really shaping up. John would be pleased. Most of the “projects” were on our to-do list for years, but with John’s poor health we postponed everything. Our life was on hold. Now I’m trying to catch-up.

When the construction is complete, I’m going to decorate the patio with poinsettias and tiny lights. It’ll be lovely.

I need to go shopping for a new Christmas tree. I want one that’s 7.5′, pre-lit and perfect so I can decorate it beautifully.

We’ve been having a good time. We had a surprisingly fun evening playing bingo Saturday. Last night we went to dinner with the Conklins at Applebee’s. Nice time.

We’ve been making lists and checking them twice for John’s celebration of life on Wednesday.

I love having her here and will really be lonely when she leaves a week from tomorrow.

I’ve been considering getting a dog.