For those who might be wondering and are not exactly sure where we live, we have yet to endangered by the wildfires.

They are currently in Los Angeles County from the middle of the city to the north along the Angeles National Forest. We have a close friend who has evacuated her home from the Palisades Fire near Santa Monica, and we have relatives who are likely affected by the Eaton Fires near Pasadena. We have not heard from the relatives yet.

This is over 100 miles from us but the entire Southwest corner is very dry and high Santa Ana winds are with us for the next week or so. If fires do erupt, we are relatively safe. Our home’s location should help a great deal.

i just wanted folks to know we are safe.

Before beginning this post proper, something to heed. On the way back from Christmas on Signal Mountain, i was exposed and caught the flu. i have had my flu and covid shots and thought myself relative free from the dangers. Not so. If you are traveling, especially on a plane, i highly recommend you were a mask. You don’t want what i’m recovering from.

i had begun a rather lengthy post about my 2024 when i lost several close friends. Rising above this despondency, i have been dealing with living as an old man…and that beats the heck out of the alternative. But, i was sidetracked. No need for a review of the past year here.

But on our way back from yet another great Christmas at my sister’s home on Signal Mountain, some despicable character, apparently not well, declined to put on a mask. A rather dumb goofy guy in front of him decided to refrain from donning a mask. Maureen and i came down with an unpleasant malady, sneaking up on us Monday night. In spite of being diligent and having my flu and COVID shots, we caught the flu (tested negative for COVID, thank goodness).

I went down hard for seven days and am still recovering, although no longer contagious.

Essentially, i lost the first week of 2025. It was not fun nor pretty, but it gave me time for thought about where i want to go and how from here.

i”ve repeated Dicken’s first paragraph from A Tale of Two Cities often. It applies here, but i will not repeat it. 2024 was miserable for me but there were lots of good things as well. Age is beginning to exhibit its discomforts. Although not critical or life-threatening yet, some surgery looms. Annoying conditions in joints and muscles are moving toward more than annoying. Restrictions on what i eat, drink, and what i do are growing.

But i’m in pretty good shape for an old man. i can live as long as i can live. That is now finite but unknown. Good things with family abound and have outlooks that please me.

i have lost friends, but i have friends.

There will be changes, for me, for my writing, for my relations. My posts in groups will change. i won’t predict what they could be, but there will be changes…Always, there is change.

So, here’s my plan. i’m going to do what i can. i’m going to put one step ahead of the other and then follow suit, speed to be determined. i am going to love my loved ones even more. i am going to like people even though i disagree with them. i am going to try to not throw rocks over the wall. i’m going to follow that old customer service dictum of “walking in the customer’s shoes” before playing the blame game.

And i’m going to attempt to live well and always do what is right.

i think i have a pretty good chance because i have a lot of help.

…and she’s pretty too.

i’m sitting in my sister’s great room up on the mountain, Signal Mountain outside of Chattanooga. It is Christmas Eve.

Maureen, my sister Martha, and her husband Todd are getting ready for the 5:00 Children’s Christmas Service at the Signal Crest Methodist Church. The Duff’s three grandchildren and one great granddaughter are in the Christmas Drama. Christmas Eve Dinner at the Duffs will follow. Martha will play the bells at the midnight service. Right now, Martha and i are the only ones who will attend both.

After all, she is my sister.

i have put the wood in the fireplace for lighting when the crowd returns from the service. There will be 13 of us. The Christmas tree lights are on. The sun shines through the multiple trees on the down slope on the back of their home. About the same number for the fabulous Christmas Eve Dinner at the Duffs.

i sit thinking Christmas memories. My wife and sister have already sparked one memory. The crew came last night for Martha’s spaghetti and Maureen’s salad. Before the bunch got here, i watched the two in the kitchen as i helped set the tables. It took me back. Growing up, our Christmases were at our house, our aunt and uncle’s house in Red Bank, another suburb of Chattanooga, or at our other aunt and uncle’s house in Lebanon. The three sisters, Mother, Aunt Evelyn, and Aunt Bettye Kate jointly prepared the Christmas dinner. Whomever was the hostess was the head cook, but all three contributed. Watching last night’s preparations, i was taken back to over six decades ago.

It was a lovely memory. i will entertain many more before we leave on Friday to stay overnight near the Nashville airport to catch our flight back to the Southwest corner on Saturday.

i hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas filled with cherished memories.