Empty Nesters' Holiday Celebrations

hi, fellow empty nesters,

The first Sunday in December, I go to The Messiah Rendezvous at Cornell College. Starting about ten days before Christmas, I put all the Christmas music tapes into the car and I deliver cookie trays to all my friends, my doctor, my dry cleaner ladies, my postal clerks, my vet, etc. I make gourmet milk bones for all my friends' doggies, and the doggies at the pound. I read "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote every December, and "Carl The Christmas Cat" (an old, kids' book that belonged to my daughter), and "Christmas Love," by Susan Branch.

We take Katelyn, our "Little" from Big Brothers/Big Sisters, around to see the Christmas lights. Christmas Eve we go to church. Christmas Day we volunteer at "The Dentist's Dinner." There's a dentist in town that does 500 Christmas dinners for the elderly. We go over very early and help pack up the "meals on wheels" dinners. Then we help put pie (pumpkin, apple, mincemeat and cherry) and a rose vase on every table in this huge dining room.

then i make my hubby take me to The Ox Yoke Inn in the historic Amana Colonies for my Christmas dinner. Then we take Bobo, our Tibetian Spaniel, for a walk. Then we (including Bobo) take a long winter's nap. Then we phone everyone we love.

we try to stay very outwardly-focused, making happiness for others. which is how you stay happy, year-round.

P.S. - I left out my "Girlfriends' Christmas Lunch." Usually at Chi-Chi's, very early in December. We give each other crafty things in wow-shah packaging and complain about our husbands. Great fun.