I generally feel a let-down right after Christmas. When the excitement fades and the presents are all unwrapped, I usually experience a case of the blues. It seems so long until next year, and my expectations for the holiday always fall a little short.

This year, John and I promised each other that we’d skip individual gifts and instead replace three of our kitchen appliances. We picked them up Monday and they were fully installed by Christmas Eve Day. Of course that meant that there’d be no Christmas surprises. Add to that a weather forecast for gray weather and temperatures in the mid-40’s, I was sure that my normal Christmas blues would be even worse this year. But it wasn’t that way at all. We had a wonderful day. John surprised me with a small gift and I got him something he didn’t anticipate. It was a great day! Our grand mid-day dinner was flawless (the first meal prepared on our new range).

We watched a fun movie on TV and just relaxed.

January will be busy as we prepare for our huge Snowfest concerts (January 27 and 28) in Frankenmuth, and then on the 30th we’re taking off for Florida.

I need to get down there soon. Mom’s mental state is worse than when we left her in October. Today she had forgotten how to use the phone so I couldn’t even wish her a happy holiday. But when we get down there, I’ll work with her, and see if I can’t bring back some of her responses. I miss my mom.

But except for the situation with Mom, the holiday was nearly perfect.