Living Dangerously

Amid the mad rush of shopping for all of the gifts in one day, I was thinking about the people I know who are going through particularly hard times right now. It makes me feel sad, powerless and humble.

Last year at this time, there were other people with different troubles who are in much better spots now.

We really do never know what the future will hold. We are caught short by illness or obstacles. We worry, we anticipate, we plan, we delude ourselves, striving for dreams that we may never reach or don't want if we achieve them.

But we keep going and times change regardless. Where will we be next year?

I did receive gifts today:
- many people smiling and polite in the middle of the shopping frenzy
- seeing a bunch of regular middle aged people wearing Santa hats like it was normal apparel
- having time to relax with my hubby at the end of the day

Nature Notes
- cold, bright winter sun
- saw two white-breasted nuthatches calling to each other softly as they foraged in a maple tree. Usually these birds are with a flock of other birds - what was this pair up to? A pair of love birds, siblings perhaps ...
- a racoon 5 feet away clinging to the side of a tree just steps from a busy road. Where was my camera? It was a blipworthy moment!