A Very Merry Christmas With Cheryl.

Well... how long has it been?   Too long, if you ask me.....  Since I posted anything on the blog, that is....

But here I am... The Holiday Season almost behind me, and I finally get the opportunity to post something.   So....  Let us begin!  

We had plans for Cheryl to come to Wisconsin over the Christmas break.   I had a 4 day weekend and she had  three days to visit.   Everything was fine, right up until that blasted cold air hit the Midwest and kicked up a small blizzard.   It did not help that the weather channel and all of the news outlets spun it into the STORM OF THE CENTURY!  Which... it was not.  ( Hurray for Journalistic integrity!) 

But the news DID scare the heck out of Cheryl, who decided that a five hour trip through a blizzard was not a wise decision.   As disappointed  as I was with the situation, I had to agree.   I already worry about her traveling alone for that distance.   Having to  think about her navigating through  white-out conditions and sub zero wind chills would drive me crazy!  So... it was looking like a cold and lonely Christmas this year.   Almost poetic, if you think about all of the other happenings of 2022.  It would not be the first time I spent a Christmas "alone," away from family....  But I would not be entirely lonely as I had Dave and Christina and a number of Parties they were prepared to drag me too. ( Yes, yes...  Friends don't let friends be alone on Christmas, apparently.)  So... I had prepared myself mentally to try to enjoy Christmas without Cheryl by my side.  

But Cheryl had other ideas.  

On Saturday,   The weather had cleared up and Cheryl texted me that she thought she could make it.   What did I think?  

Before I could answer,   she texted me that she was already on her way!  Ummm.   Ok?  

This should have been joyous news if it had not blindsided me so effectively.  I had planned on shopping for her gifts on Friday.   But with the weather and the change in plans,  I had put it off figuring I would buy what I had targeted for next weekend. ( New Years Eve.) I quickly ran out and purchased her gifts and wrap attacked everything.   She arrived at 3 P.M. 

And from there,   what else is there to say?   We enjoyed a great weekend together.   Doing a whole lot of nothing.    The weather might have cleared up, but the arctic blast was still chilling everything down.   Add in that there was pretty much nothing open on Christmas day.    Except Kwik Trip!  

Ah,  Good old Kwik Trip!   Our salvation from starvation.   Without any stores or restaurants open, we were forced to get our meals and drinks there.   Thankfully,  they have plenty of things to choose from.  ( Including Wisconsin Beer!)   So Cheryl and I spent the majority of Christmas day eating  convenience store foods and watching A Christmas Story in a nice warm hotel room.  Not a terrible way to spend Christmas, if you think about it.

I should also mention that we did attempt to go out several times during the day.   We toured Kenosha... again!  Only this time during the winter.   

We visited the lake shore and did a little sub-zero beach combing.    ( Cheryl found a brick!)  It was terribly cold  in the evening  by the lighthouse, so we did not stay there long.  But it was a beautiful sight to see.  

Funny how that seems to be an ongoing theme:  that many of the most beautiful moments in  life are seen during uncomfortable hardships.  

Cheryl lamented that her gifts were not as "thought out" as mine were.  But in reality,  she made me cookies and Banket.  AND she gave me the best Christmas gift I could have hoped for. ( Ok..  second best, if you count Jesus....) Being able to spend the holiday together meant more this year than previous years.  It is true that "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."  We must have taken the previous 25 years for granted. 

But all happiness must end eventually.  And Cheryl just messaged me that she is back home in Iowa.... Safe and sound.  She managed to beat the upcoming snow storm, which is a good thing.   And with a little luck, I will be able to see her again next week, as I have another long weekend planned.  

In the mean time.   I have been working on some Origami for a co-worker, who requested a cat.  I still have to work on another request for an Eagle.  But now that I am finished with the Pearson Project, and have my evenings back, I may have the time to work on them during the week.   And maybe even blog more than once every two weeks!    

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you all had a happy and joyful Christmas this year.  And let's hope 2023 is a better year.   A bright hopeful future is always something to look forward to...   Thanks for stopping in.