december's eve

It's cold. The temperatures however will climb today and for the next two weeks the forecast is for above normal temperatures. My heart t'is singing. My bank account is snug and tucked in tight in the black. The tax man is happy (for now). Oliver (the world's sweetest cat) is perched here beside me. I've reached the point in this year of terrible Ache and Sadness, of deep Grief and Longing, that life without my hero dog Jake has become familiar and normal to me ... to us. Bitter sweetness, wistful memories and enormous relief are all tangled together. It's the first December in many years that I'm not living on that terrible edge of life, coping with a gravely ill and rapidly declining senior family member - first Ernst, then Emma Jane and last year that sweet Noodle dog. I have the best friend a girl could ask for and I know in my heart that I would've given up, this difficult year, if it wasn't for her constant attention, care and endless love. We live a safe and sound life in a big beautiful brick house. Madam LuLu her most royal Highness of Black Street lived a long, loud, bossy and superior life, she reigned over these lands and territories, gardens and jungles another summer season and well into her 18th year. I talk with my one and only sister every single week for at least an hour. I have great food and good health and I have twinkling sparkling Christmas lights. I walk by the ocean every day of my life. There are no lawns to be mowed or jungles to be whacked at for days and days and days. I have a wall of fire wood neatly stacked in my sunporch. And I have the Ness, the L'il Man & the shaggalicious Miss Winnie D who's only wish in life was to be somebody's dog - and she is so my dog and I am so her human. There is much love and joy, peace and gratitude here this Christmas Eve in this old brick house at 29 Black Street ... and in this tiny Nova Scotia seaside village.

Later on we'll conspire ... as we dream by our fire.

Merry Christmas to all.