Merry Christmas Messages

This is the first Christmas in my entire life that I've been without my Mother.  She was, as mothers tend to be, the center piece of my childhood Christmas.  As I grew up, moved away, and started my own life, I still knew that I had a Mom somewhere to visit, call, and spend some time with.  Thinking about all of this, and given her very recent and untimely departure, I've been a bit sad, knowing that I would have no such visit, no call, not even a card - ever again.  Then, strangely on this very Christmas Eve, I received the following email:

"Well, my wonderful sons, it's Christmas Eve and you are somewhere else. I wish for you a wonderful night and a wonderful day tomorrow and many many special days as you travel into your futures. It is such an honor to be your mom and such a pleasure as well. I love you with all my heart and soul. Celebrate the Season, celebrate your lives, and find happiness within. Merry Christmas!!"

"Mom"

The message was from another person whose last name is spelled exactly like mine and whose son had an email address almost like my own.  Clearly this was a mistake.  A slip of a finger on the keyboard.  Totally unintended but for me, something that touched my very soul.

Realizing that this person had intended the message for one of her sons, I responded so she could redirect it and also told her my story in the process.  We had a brief email dialog and then closed the conversation with a Merry Christmas and, most likely, a "the end"!

Anyway, I will always remember the accidental Christmas Greeting that I received from "Mom" the first Christmas after my own Mom passed away.  Be kind to your Mom's, they appreciated it and, I know that wherever she is now, mine does too!

Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty Day at Topsail Island.

We’re back.  This has been a pretty good week or at least part of one since we arrived Friday and will leave Tuesday.  Got to see some nice Christmas Decorations (they really do a great job decorating the Surf City Park and streets); met Ashley and Austin in (make that near) Shallotte to transfer Christmas presents and have lunch; looked for a new grill (didn’t find one yet); and today, since it’s due to be in the low 70s, we may get to shoot baskets, ride the tandem bike, and visit the marsh walkway.  Not too bad actually.  Christmas will be in Virginia (Patti Jr. doesn’t need to be alone for that day), then off to SC for New Years and maybe even back here for a short visit.  I know that Pat loves to be here as much as I do and leaving, besides being a hassle from a cleaning up standpoint, is always our least favorite part of the visit.  Hopefully, everyone is getting ready for Christmas.  Before then, I have school work to wrap up, a new term to set up, work work to pay attention to, and probably much more to do that I am forgetting about but likely will remember after I should have done it.

 

What did I do Thanksgiving?

Actually, I did drive to the beach after having Thanksgiving dinner with Patti Jr. She did a great job - a real turkey, dressing, sweet potato's, green bean casserole - the whole shooting match. I left about 3:30 PM and arrived around 9:30. Friday was nice, got to decorate the house. After that, downhill - cold and rainy with lots of wind. I did get everything done that I needed to do and left Wednesday. Pat's back. Bahamas don't seem to be all that great, nor does the Norwegian Cruise Line from what she has to say about it. I am going to plan a cruise for next year but it has to be on the Celebrity Line since I know they are top notch. Maybe the Mercury. Christmas shopping is underway (almost finished actually). Now we have to get things wrapped and mailed. We'll be tripping around over the holidays that's for sure.

Work is good. Semi-retired is heavy on the semi, not so much on the retired. That's OK with me. Nothing else spectacular going on - I did get my PM Certifications (Master Project Manager and Certified International Project Manager).........Whoopee!

Bradley Q. Wootten, MPM, CIPM