I wake up on Dec. 26, earlier than usual because it seems my internal sense is telling me that my house looks as if Christmas threw up all over everything. Yesterday was so much fun with all my children and grandchildren. Every available space was decorated with reds, greens, and golds. There are still six trees inside and three outside with their little lights shining bright. We just didn’t worry about the mess that was strewn across the floor, tables, and furniture as the gifts were opened and paper and boxes discarded but— today is the tomorrow we all dread. It was so much more fun decorating than “undecorating” my house. And do you, as I do, feel the heavy letdown of everything going back to normal? It feels like an anticlimax. How do you even decorate to have any color in your house after all this beauty comes down and put away into closets for a whole year?
And to add to that somber feeling, we must deal with January and the new year. Resolutions? I think not! I wager that I have made thousands of these little declarations over the years of my lifetime and I cannot remember ever following through with but a handful and I’m sure it was something like, “I resolve to eat more cake,” or something just as silly.
I learned a long time ago that promising myself something as ridiculous as losing weight or exercising or holding my wayward tongue is as comical as me becoming a clown in a circus. It’s just not going to happen.
I admire these people who make such promises to themselves and carry through. They are my heroes. I have some grandsons who made such declarations earlier on and even before the “pledge day” have carried through for a while now. Congratulations and well done. I’m too set in my ways, I own too many bigger clothes, I love to sit down, and I LOVE sweets!
If you are making declarations to do something you really want, I applaud your tenacity and hope that you reach whatever goal it is you desire. When you see me, long after resolutions have been made just don’t look for me to be a smaller size, or having flexible joints, or a red clown nose.
Since we all probably have left over turkey, this is one way I use mine.
TURKEY VEGETABLE SOUP
3 T. Olive oil; 1 small diced onion; 2 diced stalks of celery; 2 diced carrots; 1 can of mixed vegetables; 1 cup left over whatever kind of beans you had for Christmas dinner; I usually have green beans; 1 can of diced canned tomatoes (fresh if you have them); 2 large cans of tomato sauce (16 oz); 2 cups of shredded left-over turkey.
Brown onion, celery, and carrots in olive oil until tender. In a big soup pot pour in the remainder of ingredients, stir well and bring to a boil and then simmer for about 30 minutes.
