Instead of writing a wish list to Chanukah Harry, I pause to think about all of the gifts I have already received in 2024, even if one of them was a far-less-than-perfect home improvement job and another is potassium nitrate. Clearly, I will be turning some lemons into lemonade, but here’s my list.
Potassium nitrate:
For several years I thought about microwaving my mouthwash because it was too cold for my teeth at room temperature. Then a new dentist told me not just to try any toothpaste-for-sensitive-teeth, but one that has potassium nitrate in it. Bingo! That did the trick!
This gift is farther ranging than having the ability to eat ice cream without pain. It is a reminder that a new doctor might have a new answer.
Since I am at an age that many of my doctors are retiring — or in the case of my dentist, even passing away — this helps me move to a new medical practice with hope instead of dread.
*****
That semi-botched home improvement project:
I really thought I had done a good job of getting bids and vetting a landscaper when I made the decision to pull out most of the landscaping in my front yard, which was horribly overgrown after thirty years. But nope. I goofed. The guy I used put in plants that didn’t work well together — their growth patterns being vastly different. About a quarter of the plants will need to be replaced next spring. Additionally, there is the fact that four bushes have died and the landscaper is not returning my calls in that regard. But I find two ways this experience has been a gift.
• First, the law of averages tells us not all of our decisions will be right and if I had to goof on vetting, I am glad it was my landscaper who was bad and not the new dentist.
• And as I complained to my friend about this, she said, “Well, there’s always independent living.” What a great gift! A reminder of how grateful I am to be living independently in my single-family residence, botched landscaping and all.
*****
The best gift — my kids and grandkids:
So many great things happened in the family in 2024. The top event among the adult kids was my son’s marriage. Scott and Meg surprised all of us when they had the mayor of Cincinnati marry them during the day, while sharing the news with us over champagne later that afternoon. Meg brings her daughter into the family, making it official: I have ten grandkids now!
And with that many grandkids, there is always lots of news. The BIG news among them is that the oldest one has gone off to college at The Ohio State University. And speaking of BIG, five out of ten of the grandkids are now taller than I am. As it is customary for me to kiss them on top of their heads, five now have to bend over to make that happen. Hmmm…kind of like bowing down to me. A friend told me that as the granny, I am the Main Mama of the family, so perhaps bows are fitting.
*****
Friends old and new:
I’m grateful to have many friends. The three I mention today are women with whom I traveled in 2024. Vera and I went to Italy. Roberta and I went to Scandinavia. It was in our Scandinavian tour group that she and I met Nancy.
It is said that we meet people by chance and by choice become friends.
So yes! A chance meeting with Nancy in October. And a chance meeting with Vera in a cancer caregivers support group a dozen years ago. And a chance meeting with Roberta in elementary school way back there in the late 1950s.
I receive our choice to be friends as a gift.
*****
And a big gift professionally:
I am proud to announce that Bancroft Press will publish my new book in April 2025. It’s called “Chai on Life.” (Think of it as “High on Life” with a Jewish slant.) The book is a compilation of three dozen slice-of-life stories. Each story ends with a one line takeaway and each of those one-liners is illustrated with a full color design of my creation.
As an example, one story is called “Influencers are Everywhere, Not Just on Social Media.” In it, I quote a Cathy comic strip written by Cathy Guisewite. The mother/daughter relationship was a frequent topic of the cartoon and my favorite punchline from the strip was this, “Funny how much better we understand the Jello when we’ve seen the mold.” Mentioning people who have significantly impacted my life, I arrive at the takeaway from the story. It says, “Note to Self: Choose your friends wisely.” You become who you hang out with.
The new book is the culmination of the 30 years I have spent working as an author, blogger, quilt artist and motivational speaker. My fingers are crossed that, after three decades, I will finally become an overnight success with a huge bestseller.
And of course, I will greatly appreciate all help from friends in making this happen. Anyone need an author via Zoom for their book club?
It is with great gratitude for 2024 and high hopes for 2025 that I step forward into the new year.
