[Magdalen] Quiet Pub

[Jay Weigel]

I don't know how you feel about children in general, Scott, but there are
always organizations like Big Brothers, CASA (which is a child advocacy
organization for kids in the court system and foster care), and various
organizations within the churches that can help you find children to help
make Christmas wonderful for (and other days, too). I've been considering
getting involved with CASA, which stands for court appointed special
advocate, I think. I have a friend in Tennessee who does that. My
grandchildren are far enough away that I don't see them often enough, and I
miss kids. I'm now too old for Big Sisters.

On Wed, Dec 14, 2016 at 9:45 AM, Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I'm managing to avoid, mostly, my annual "holiday season" severe
> doldrums. I seem to get feelings of needing to be busy with
> preparations but I haven't actually done a lot of holiday stuff for
> years. Yet the feelings of needing to do them and fearing resentment
> and judgment (from whom?) persist. I'm thinking it's akin to how I get
> that happy "snow day" feeling when there's a huge snowfall and schools
> are closed. I don't get a day off work, but the same feeling is still
> there from when I prayed fervently at the radio to hear the name of
> our school district. :)
>
> Childhood Christmas was so wonderful because we had off from school
> and didn't have to do much except play and get presents, right? And
> now it's our turn to make Christmas wonderful. But without children,
> there's not a great deal to be done (just for young nieces and
> nephews, a gift and presence).
>
> I'm more nervous about my mom's 80th birthday party on January 14 in
> Michigan. My brothers and I are hosting a dinner with family and
> friends at a restaurant private dining room. It's nearly all set up,
> but heaven forbid I should wake up at night and start thinking about
> it. Always something to stir the anxiety pot...
>
> --
> Scott R. Knitter
> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>