This is pretty much a shrine.

This is "Ron's Tree" that I talked about in the previous post. As I reminisce during this holiday season, the tree is comforting and a reminder of all the years that we had together. I like to read the mail and the newspaper next to the tree; it is in a quiet place and is a good place to help me process my thoughts.
The picture of Ron and me was taken as we sat in the back of his pick-up. It was taken in October 2010 when he was in remission; a year later we were living in Ann Arbor due to the many complications from his bone marrow transplant.

Thanksgiving in Virginia

I took a road trip to Springfield and Fredericksburg, Virginia Monday to Monday with Thanksgiving in the middle. I had traveled there for Mother's Day 2017, but the last Thanksgiving with Niccole and Matt's families was 2015. Much has changed during that time; I have had many hard things to do. So many changes.
The trip to VA was good for me; it was a wonderful time with kids and grandkids that passed by quickly. Helping decorate Christmas trees at Matt's and Niccole's kindled my Christmas spirit. Carrying on traditions without Ron to share them with is a paradox of comfort and sadness. We had been together on Christmas for 52 years. I have been working on my Christmas cards, put up outside lights, set up the top 2/3 of our tree with white lights. Then being inspired by friends who have a special memory tree for their daughter Laurie, I have a new tree--Ron's Tree--that will be decorated with ornaments representing special memories. I bought a multi color prelit tree because although I preferred white lights, Ron preferred multi color lights. And as we used to always say to each other every year, "I think this is the best tree ever."