Dia de los Muertos And Religious Mysticism

 

We got to the Dia de los Muertos Celebration way early, had Brunch, and managed to actually get into the Mercado and Ofrenda 45 Minutes before it officially Opened, since we knew some Vendors.  That made for unobstructed Photo Ops before crowds descended upon it all.  It also meant I could buy one of my small Ofrenda Home Altars from my Favorite Priest Friend who Creates them, before he Sold any of them.  He always gives me a deep Discount since I've been Collecting his Work for a Decade now.  Last Year I was supposed to take a Class of his on making them, but had to Cancel due to a Family Emergency.

   

If he ever Teaches another one I'll Sign Up tho' and keep all Body Parts Crossed that nothing comes up.   This is Why I do not Sign Up for Classes tho', I never know what Issues of Life will make it so I can't Honor the Commitment to attend?   You can't Plan your Emergencies.  Anyway, I can see why this Year the Public Ofrenda was only for Three Days, it's almost all Perishables this Year.   So will be replaced as they look perished, so it's called a deconstructed Altar, since it will be done over and over again over the Three Day Period.   It was Lovely and I like nothing more than a Beautiful Altar.   Once we get everything around here Done I Plan to set aside an Interior Space where one will be constructed again regularly during the Special Holy Days.

 

The Man did very well, it was a lot of Walking and he kept Pace fairly well, tho' both of us had Aching Joints and figured a Big Storm must be coming.   It was a Gorgeous Day, but, when we feel that stiff and in pain, it's coming.   Sure enuf, by Dusk we had a huge Monsoon Storm that dumped an incredible amount of Rain on us.  By then we were Home and cozy, but it was fierce enuf to wake me out of my Midafternoon Nap I was taking!   To rush out and pull everything on the Front Porch Displays under cover more... too late, but, still.  We had some Flooding but were sufficiently Sandbagged to protect stuff.

The Storm would certainly have put a damper on the huge Dia de los Muertos Celebration going on at the Big Catholic Cemetery across the Street, which was going strong since this Morning.  Most Families will be there all Day decorating the Graves and Honoring their Dearly Departed.  So many make the Pilgrimage that Local Police have to direct Traffic, complicated this Year due to all the Construction on the Main Roads that intersect the Cemetery Location.  We've got so much major Construction going on that it really is ridiculous and impeding Traffic even when it's not an epic amount of it.   There are shortcuts around it that I take to get back to our Community, which is the closest one to the Cemetery.

This Post I'm just using the Images I took with my Cellphone Camera and the next Post will be the ones I took with my Old School Camera, which, I haven't downloaded yet.   I was hasty this Year and didn't linger at the Event becoz frankly, we were so sore and had been there Hours before it even began, walking the Gardens.  The problem this Year was that the Gardens are under major Construction and Improvements too, so a lot of Detours to get to where we needed to be and disorientation in areas they've completely remodeled!  The Improvements are very nice, but altered all the Paths I know by rote in how to get everywhere and they hadn't updated the Maps yet either to navigate it all.   So, we did a lot of unnecessary Walking going where you can now no longer go or get thru, and have to turn back!  *Le Sigh*

 

Even some of the Docents and Workers were confused about where to direct you and clueless.   But, we finally found a Grounds Worker who Radioed in and asked Upper Management how we could get to Ottosen Gallery?  We were getting tired and exhausted Physically, so he was a Sweetheart about accommodating us and just not saying he didn't know.  Turns out if we'd been told in advance we could have gotten there with Thousands less Steps coz the new Detour was just to the Left of the Main Entrance!!!  *Le Sigh and LOL*   Well, it meant we sure got our Cardio in for the day and were so knackered that we both Napped when we got back Home after picking Princess T up from Work!  *LOL*  She got out real early Today thankfully.

   

The Man didn't grow up with Home Altars and Celebrating the Dead like I did, so, until he met me, he never incorporated these Traditions and Rituals.   My Mom's Country has Celebrations very similar and on the same Days as most Hispanic Cultures.  And my Dad's Culture also sets aside Celebrations to Honor the Ancestors, so there were always Altars in our Homes... and in mine.   And I do recall it often Freaking Out some of my American Friends who misinterpreted a lot of what we were doing and thought it to be Pagan Witchcraft or Voodoo.  *LOL*   Well, some of you probably still do think that and it's Okay.  *Winks*  I remember every Pastor of every Church I ever was either a Guest or Member of trying to inhibit my Cultural Traditions, to no avail.  *Bwahahaha*  But the Priests were always Cool with it and I think that's Why a lot of Catholics are from Cultures that converted to Christianity.  Just a hunch. *Smiles*  

My current Church Family I'm a Member of and have been for over Two Decades now is a Street Ministry and a predominantly Black Congregation, that might not understand my ways, but doesn't bash them either, which, I appreciate.   My Mom became a Member for Years before she Died and that shocked me since she didn't like American Churches and Denominations at all, didn't understand them.   Far too different Culturally for her to embrace, but, my Non-Denominational Street Ministry Church she just Loved and started coming with me when we both could attend regularly.  She knew I did Ministry Work on the Streets all the time and had she been Well enuf she would have worked at least the Food Ministry with me, even if not the Street Ministry part in some of the sketchy areas we Served the Communities there.  My Pastor and First Lady just Adored Nanna and she Adored them too.

Sadly Pastor and my Mom have gone to the Great Beyond now, so, he won't be presiding over my own Funeral.  But I keep in touch with our First Lady and I still Tithe to the Ministry to support the important work they do in underserved Communities and with the Street People and in the Prison Systems.   I really miss doing Food Ministry Work, which I did for Decades with All Faith, a conglomeration of many different and diverse Faiths which combined resources to Feed the Hungry, the Homeless and the Housebound.   And direct and connect them with other Resources that would be Helpful to them.   I've been Poor, I've been Homeless, I've been Hungry, and now that I'm a Full Time Caregiver I do understand how you can become stuck Housebound and Isolated more than is convenient and optimally functional and connected to your Community day to day.

I've been Richer, I've been Poorer, Richer is Better.  *Winks*  Anyway, the Community Altar Experience was Special tho' I didn't leave my Offering to my Deceased Family Members and Ancestors, which I usually do and probably should have.  But, I could tell The Man was fading fast and while things were going so well we prematurely called it a Day.  And it had been a very pleasant one and we both enjoyed it tremendously.   I had the Southwestern Eggs Benedict and Gazpacho for Brunch.  He had the Scone with Eggs and Pepper Gravy.   He said it was very good and mine sure was too, it's the only Meal we've thus needed all day!!!  Lately, One Meal has been more than enuf for both of us.   I feel satiated from one and really would have to force myself to eat any others.  I don't even need to take my GOLO anymore actually, tho' I still have some if I need to.

His Scone and Pepper Gravy were under his Eggs... he's a Gravy Snob but said this Gravy was very good.  *LOL*   My Order is pictured further Below in the Post and was a thing of Beauty and exceptional Taste.  It was a nice way to start our Day.   The Son had actually paid for the Ofrenda I Bought from my Priest Friend.   He joked that while he has it he might as well give it to me now becoz until Unemployment starts up or he gets Hired, it's gonna be a lean Holiday Season.   I agree, it could be indeed, so, we enjoy stuff while we presently still can.  Princess T asked me if it would be too Weird to put up her Christmas Tree?  I didn't, so, it's up in her Room now, she wanted to do it and enjoying it for however long she wants to is Okay with me.   She enjoys Holiday Decorating again, now she does her own in her own Room.  She used to as a Small Child and I'm glad she's resumed the Practice.  

The Young Prince contacted me via PM and he'd been on my Heart and Mind, so, I'd almost called him to ask how Halloween went.  Whenever someone is on my Heart and Mind, they inevitably initiate Contact first, it's very Strange how that always happens.   Anyway, they are still financially struggling so he had no Costume, no Candy to hand out, but did Carve his Jack O'Lantern, so, that was all he did and it bothered him.    Allen doesn't really Celebrate things, but, The Young Prince does have his Traditions and Rituals he fondly recalls and holds Dear.   So, I could tell he was quite morose and melancholy about Halloween being a dud for him.   I've included his Two Jack O'Lantern Images he Shared, he did a good job, as always... so it was a Fine Jack O'Lantern.  Allen prefers the new Job and it's easier on him, but pays far less.

Above is my new Ofrenda Altar I bought from my Priest Friend.  Hard to choose a Fav and there were Three different ones I was considering.  So, I let The Man choose the one he felt he liked best and it was a Fine Choice and the one I think I was leaning towards also.  I do Hope my Friend Sells Out of all the Beautiful Art he Created.  He Donates all the Proceeds towards the Ministries of the Church, so, it all goes to a very good Cause.   He's there peeking above the Altar.  *Smiles*   He always remembers me and all the Altars I've previously Collected, he has a phenomenal Memory.  He asked if the Emergency that kept me from the Class in January was resolved and I explained that unfortunately it's still ongoing and we're Dealing with it again now, so The Daughter had to return to Mexico again.  He's a Hispanic Priest and does a lot of his Ministry Work in both Countries, so understands the particular Hardships and Needs South of the Border too.

We had a nice chat again, he's such a great Guy and I've truly enjoyed knowing him all these Years, even tho' we only connect there at the Dia de los Muertos Celebration Mercado every Year.   I always look for him and seek him out, even if some Years I haven't been able to Buy one.   If I could Buy one every Year I would and I'd surely Own the largest Collection of his Work, he knows that.  *LOL*  I know that the large Storm we had last Night would put a damper on the Procession and Outdoor activities, especially at the Cemeteries, it was a huge downpour and caused a lot of accidents on the Roads.  The Son was supposed to meet a Friend to do something and cancelled due to the Road conditions being too hazardous and visibility issues with the heavy Rains.  He stayed Home instead and so did we.  Anything you would have done we decided not to do on account of the severe Weather.

We needed the Rain, but not all at once.  *Smiles*  I had to bring a Vintage Military Footlocker and Vintage Folding Chair inside to dry out.  The Storm hit so suddenly we didn't have sufficient Time to get it out of the Elements before it got soaking wet.  It should dry out okay and the Footlocker is Wood, so just a lot of drying time will be necessary.  If it had been a Metal one it would have fared fine... it still had great Paper Ephemera attached to it and that's especially what I didn't want to get ruined.  It seems to be okay tho'.  *Whew*  The Rain came in heavy and sideways, so even things under cover Outside did get wet on the Porch and Patio.   Not much you can do about that and we're slowly removing things after they dry off and bringing them to Interior locations now.

My Vampire Lips TJ Maxx Mug hasn't arrived yet from my Online Order.  I had Hoped to get it before Halloween since I'd also finally found a reasonably priced Coffee Maker to replace the one that went on the fritz.  Just about every Major Store has them but OMG the vast majority of them now are priced in the Stratosphere.  Companies like Gevalia, Jura, Nespresso, Cuisinart and Keurig, among others I've never heard of, can cost from Hundreds to Thousands!   I wanted to Pay no more than Forty Bucks, so Bella Single Serve was more my speed.  *LOL*  Granted, some of the Grind and Brews intrigued me, but paying a Hundred and Forty did not.  They were Sold Out of all the inexpensive Coffee Makers but I got One of Two Bella they had left at $39.99... plus I get my Red Card 5% Discount.  *Whew*  Mr. Coffee is still around at around Twenty, but, Sold Out everywhere I went... no Wonder.  Not all of us can afford to get Barista Bougee with our Coffee Makers at Home.  *LOL*

 

Above and Below are Two more of my Altar Ofrendas I bought from The Priest many Moons ago.   So, the one I just Bought compliments the one Below very nicely.   He didn't have any with Frida Kahlo this Year and he and I remembered the time I got there early and would have bought one, but didn't wanna carry it around, so came back before I was ready to leave and someone had already Bought all his Frida Kahlo Altars!!!  This time he asked if I wanted him to just Hold the purchase until we were ready to leave and then come back for it, but, we were ready to leave, he was actually our last stop when the Mercado was finally set up at his Table.  Many Vendors were still putting out their Merch, we were that early, but, I wasn't looking to Buy from anyone else, even tho' the Inventory this Year was fabulous.

 

We used to do a lot more of the Activities when The G-Kid Force were little Kids.  Like Face Painting to look like La Calavera Catrina and Sugar Skull Makeup, the elaborate Floral Headbands, to wear for the Procession.   Making Sugar Skulls to take Home for our Home Altar Ofrenda.  We still have all the Sugar Skulls the Kids made, they last indefinitely if you keep them dry and protected, like the Sugar Eggs you can make and decorate for Easter with Dioramas inside of them.  We have a few of those too.  Since my Grandkids and Son are Hispanic, incorporating the Hispanic Culture, Traditions and Rituals was always important to me to Honor their Heritage and Ancestry.  Of coarse I've always had what my Cultural Ancestry Traditions and Rituals are, so, we do a lot that was very different than what The Man was used to.

My Maternal Grandfather was Raised by a Chinese Family when his Didi Kai Bio Mom became Widowed.  She had Eleven Kids, so Five of the Youngest went to live with a Chinese Childless Family who Raised them as if their own.  The Six Oldest stayed with their Mom and helped her, so both Welsh Didi Kai and Chinese Traditions and Rituals were thus melded into the Family Ancestry.  As it turns out The Daughter is part Asian, so, that worked out just Splendid.  And my Mom, who was very connected to practices of Buddhism, since her Dad was Buddhist, Believed in Reincarnation and that The Daughter was Reincarnate of the Spirit of her Dad.   So, she and The Daughter were always extremely close and I have a very interesting Supernatural Story to tell now about something that happened when The Daughter was a Toddler.  That solidified my Mom's Beliefs.

 

My Gran-Gran had Passed when I was a Teenager, so none of my Children was Born yet, and they never got to meet any Great-Great Grandparents, all were gone.   My Gran-Gran spoke several languages fluently even tho' he was illiterate and could not Read nor Write, the Gypsies didn't send their Kids to School in his day.   So, he spoke fluent Chinese, but, my Mom and her Siblings never learned it, they just Spoke Welsh and English growing up.  Since, by their Generation, English was mandatory in the Schools, all taught by the English, and they were punished severely for even speaking Welsh.   Thus, Mom grew up hearing her Father speak Chinese, and Singing in Chinese, but didn't Speak nor Understand it herself.  She just recalled what the Songs sounded like and were.

So, fast forward to the early 1980's and The Daughter is a Toddler, she's playing with her Dolls and my Mom and I hear her Singing an entire Song in fluent Chinese!!!!!!!   There were no Chinese Children in her Day Care or in our Neighborhood, so it gave us Goosebumps!!!   Especially my Mom, becoz it was the Song she remembered her Dad Singing when she was a Child and no way could my Daughter have known it almost Three Generations later!!!   My Mom couldn't even Sing that Song and I'd never heard it before.  Plus, I didn't own a TV at the time, so The Daughter never watched TV anywhere to hear it.  So, we asked a Two Year Old where she'd Heard that Song and how she Knew it?  And she simply said, as Kids just do in a matter-of-fact way, "I used to Sing it when I was here before."   *Gasp and OMG*  Yeah, tho' I personally didn't previously Believe in Reincarnation like my Mom, it did give me considerable Pause and Possibility, lemme tell ya!!!!!

I STILL break out in Goosebumps whenever I tell that Story and just did, becoz it evokes that reaction, as something I can't Explain or fully Understand.   Granted, the Older she got the less she would Sing those Songs in Chinese and eventually she didn't remember them at all, also a Curious thing I cannot explain.  I don't know a whole lot about Reincarnation to offer Explanations of how it would or should Work.  I just know what I Witnessed myself with my own Child and was really jaw dropping, even for my Mom who fully Believed in Reincarnation all her Life.  So, she became fully convinced The Daughter had been here before as her Great-Gran-Gran.    My Gran-Gran's explanation of his Belief System was that you kept coming back until you reached the highest plane of Enlightenment and Nirvana.  And that as one Breath leaves this Realm it awaits the time to when it enters the first Breath of a Newborn.

Several Major Religions Believe the Spirit is Reborn into a New Body after Death, it's a Religious and Philosophical Concept that appears in many Traditions... Hindu, Buddhist, Judaism and Ancient Middle Eastern Religions.   The Concept of Karma is often associated with Reincarnation and that the Acts in this Life have consequences in the next, which, I have always Believed.   Religious Mysticism is fascinating and the Soul of a Human Being is Immortal IMO, I do Believe Energy never Dies, it just Changes Form and goes on Forever.   Anyway, Spirituality aside, I do find Traditions and Rituals to be Comforting to my Soul, so, we've always established some that we keep going.   And I encourage people do develop and incorporate their own, even if it's not Spiritual in Nature per se or has no Religious significance to them at all.  Ritualistic Practices just are very Grounding and Calming, even if it's just something as Simple as a Tea Ceremony.

And you don't have to be Religious to make yourself an Altar of your own Choosing as well if you want to.  You don't have to offer explanations to anyone as to why or how you do it, if it's meaningful to you, go for it.   So, anyway, this Sunday Morning everything is damp and colder, yet Sunny again, so it should be a Crisp and Lovely Day to be out and about.  I'm thinking of trekking over to the East Valley Antique Mall for something to do with The Man, get him out and about moving around again, he is starting to enjoy more Physical activities now.   I missed the Flea Market they Hosted October 26th at "Merchant Square", had I checked their Book Of Faces Page I'd of known about it sooner.  Their Antique Mall has a lot more Trade Stimulator Events than ours does.  If it wasn't so far I'd prefer to be a Vendor there.   Tho', they don't have Showrooms, just Booths, so, Space would also be more limited.

I'm currently contemplating when to haul Halloween Merch out and bring in Christmas Merch?  Princess T already got her Tree up {See Below}... and I know Christmas is out and strong in all the Shops already, so I don't wanna be late to the Party Retail Wise.   Eli the Cat isn't as Freaked Out anymore by her putting the Tree up in their Room, he actually seems to find the Pink Glow Calming.  *LOL*    He sits there gazing at it as if in a Trance and he seems much more Calm than usual.  *LMAO*   She hasn't festooned it yet with Decorations, she just wanted the Vibe for now and completely cleaned her Room, so, it's a Vision right now.  With just one Chaos Corner where she puts on her Makeup and does her Hair in front of her Full Length Mirror.  *Ha haha*

She's also confiscated some of my best fragrances of Gold Canyon Candles and Incense.  *Smiles*  But, it leaks out of her Room into the Hallways and permeates the House, so, I don't Mind.   Sharing is Caring... Right?  *Winks*   We're pretty much Done now with Celebrations until Thanksgiving arrives.  I think we'll probably go to "Cracker Barrel" for Thanksgiving Dinner, we really haven't Cooked a Full Turkey and Ham for most Holidays in a while, depends how many Mouths to Feed and if we can afford to just Eat Out for the Holiday Dinner instead?   It's preferable to me to just Eat Out and forego the Work and the Mess these days.  Plus, then everyone can Order what they prefer, since, we have fussy Eaters and those with Food Allergies, so, it just makes more Sense to.

Above and Below was my Brunch at "Gertrude's" when we were at the Gardens Dia de los Muertos Celebrations.   I could go back again Today for the last Day of the Celebrations and catch more of it, including the Procession at Dusk, but, I am not sure the Weather will Hold or not?   And, my Motivation to is waning by the Minute, so, I'm not even sure by the time I'm done Blogging, I'll even wanna commute all the way to the Far East Valley to go to the Antique Mall or not?   Lately, if I wait a Minute, my Plans Change by a wide range.  *Winks*   I get fleeting Desires that will go away if I just get comfortable and cozy enuf just here at Home now.  I think I'm in my Nesting Phase of being at Home now I've got most of the Main House the way I want it and in Order again.   The Franciscan Ware is in the Livingroom, where it shouldn't be, but, I do need to research and Price it for the Showroom while watching TV.

And I'm keeping all my Halloween Decor up until around Thanksgiving inside the House Common Areas.   The Porch will soon have the Skeletons and Jack O'Lanterns removed and just keep out the Faux and Real Pumpkins and Harvest Themed Decor until Thanksgiving is here now.   The Rain made everything Wet so I will wait until a drier Day to put Halloween Decor back into Storage, with the Help of Princess T climbing The Ladder Of Death to reach the Shelving her Mom put it on and Organized it for me in The RV Garage Mahal.   The Daughter is Hopeful to be able to come Home after November 8th when that last Social Services Appointment she's required to go to for her Kids is a Wrap... we'll see.   So many Unknowns about that whole messed up Situation South of the Border, I hate to speculate.  So much to unpack and process.

I'm dallying at even making Breakfast this Morning and I have plenty of Leftovers from the above Meal to just warm up!   But, Honestly, I can start out so lethargic and unmotivated lately to put much Energy into doing whatever I can delay or avoid altogether.  *LOL*   Sitting here Blogging is what I WANT to do, so I can make a Host of Excuses as to why I am NOT doing what I NEED to do instead and DON'T WANT to do.  *Winks*   I'm rather reverting to that 2nd Childhood of not doing what I'm telling my own Self to be doing!   *Bwahahahaha*  Can any of you relate to that Behavior?  *Winks*  Instead, The Man and I will often say what we Need to be doing and isn't getting Done, then go be Rebellious and not do any of it and just go off and have a pleasurable Day instead.  *Smiles*  No regrets either, having Fun has become a higher priority as we get Older and still can. 

 

The Kiddos Joke all the time that we're like those Older Couples on the TV Commercials that pretend to be Sad that their Kids have gone off to do Life and then can't wait to go do all our Fun Stuff all Day long with Carefree Abandon and Complete Freedom to!  *Winks*   They would be Right, we ARE those People!!!  *Smiles*   When we take off they never even know if we're coming Home at all?  *Bwahahahaha*   So, it's like they reverse roles and blow up our Phones to Check In on us.  *LOL*  I'm Surprised they haven't put a GPS Chip in us to Track us now?  *LMAOROTF*   We'll roll in and they'll mention that we've been Out ALL DAY... and we're like, "So?"  *Snicker*   And then they get all Serious and ask me if I should have Dad/Grandpa being dragged around ALL DAY... and I'm like, "Well, I could leave him Home then for you all to Watch...", and that ends that whole conversation.  *Bwahahaha*  He does not LIKE to stay Home with them, he LIKES being dragged around all Day by me... so... he'd be a Pill if I ditched him.

Yes, sometimes it's a lot for him to keep Pace and Hang, but I will ask at intervals if he's had Enough Fun and I could take him Home if he Needs me to?... and he'll say NO!, so, onwards and upwards.  *Snicker*   Listen, it's gotta be more Mentally and Physically stimulating that sitting in a Media Chair for Hours on End looking at TV Reruns, Right?  Your Mind goes to Mush with an itinerary like that!   It's Why a lot of Old Folk go Around The Bend Mentally, I'm quite sure of it.  Everyone I know of my Peer Group that does Nothing all the Time, is deteriorating at an accelerated rate and decline.   Now, there is no way in Hell I want that happening to him, becoz then I'd have to be stuck too, take Care of him and have my own accelerated decline then.   So, I'm resisting that Outcome for as long as I possibly can.  Better we should Drop like a Pair of fucking Rocks while doing something Fun and Interesting, I could Handle that better.  Go Out in a Blaze of Glory and all.  *Winks*

This is The Young Prince's Jack O'Lantern.  He said New Mexico has become Boring and he Misses all the stuff he used to be able to do in The City.   Allen is from a Small Town Rural Area, so it's Fine for him, plus he Works.  The Young Prince has nothing to do all Day and no Money to do anything even if he wanted to.   And Tyson is now getting too Old to take long Walks... so... it's Endless Days of Nothing and Lonesome, so it's getting to him.   I don't know they've made very many New Friends there either, so it's Isolating.   With The Grandson's other Serious Mental Health Issues, I don't like that he has to spend so much Time Alone either and be in a Bad Head Space without anyone around most of the Day.  From time to time he will contact me by Phone or FB, but it's not the same as In Person Contact and having your Inner Circle close by.

The last major Call we had I talked him down off a Ledge, but, it went Well and he came back to Center, so, I'm glad he reached out and called me, even tho' in hysterics.   He knows he always should and so he does, and that is a huge Relief, to him and to us.  Nobody else wants to take those Calls, becoz they Panic and don't know what to do or say when someone is on a Ledge, and close to the Edge, but he knows I always will and do, so, we take it One Call and Crisis at a time.   I don't know how 911 Operators do it all the time day in and day out, I doubt I'd be up to that, but, I can handle a Call every now and again that is hairy, an Emergency, or just Bad News and stressful.

I went to The Antique Mall to bring in the Vintage Franciscan Ware Apple Design Set, which I'm Selling individually... and a few other higher end Collectibles I had.   The inexpensive Smalls are Selling briskly, but I'm Hopeful that as Christmas nears, Shoppers might start Buying the better Merch too?   I removed all the Halloween Merch, but kept any that is just a Harvest Theme and will leave that in until Thanksgiving.  I have a bit of Vintage Thanksgiving Decor Merch, tho', to be Honest, it's a Tough Sell, even tho' it's Vintage Thanksgiving.   I figure the Apple Design Set is very Autumnal, so, might have the right Buyer for it come in this Month, we'll see...   The Line of Franciscan Ware typically Sells well... I've never Sourced this much of the Apple Design tho'... you usually find the Desert Rose Design... rather than the Apple or the Ivy Design.  The Starburst Design is very Retro Mid Century Mod, so if you find any of that it's a Quick Turn. 

The Mall was very busy, but, Sales were Soft and I hadn't Sold a thing yet for a Sunday, that's abysmal.  They called me at 10 Minutes to Five at Home later on, to ask if I'd come in and cover a Five to Nine for someone who didn't show up at the last Minute!!!  WTF?!   I declined, First of all I couldn't get there by Five, in only Ten Minutes at Rush Hour!!!  Not a realistic expectation!!!   Second of all, and more importantly, I gave up working a regular permanent Shift on Sundays for a reason, so wasn't covering for someone whose commit to Sundays and then is flaking out and expecting to get coverage during the Holiday Season, that's bullshit.   So, whether they got someone else further down the Call List I dunno, don't Care either, not my Problem.  Plus, it's Stormy as Hell again Tonight, so I wasn't driving in bad inclement Weather either.

Why whoever didn't Show Up didn't notify them early enuf to give a Fill-In some appropriate Time to come in and cover their Shift, who the fuck knows?   Or, mebbe they never gave any notice at all and just didn't show up by Ten Minutes til... and the Mall called them and found out they weren't coming in?  There's far too many flaking out all the damned time lately and I get fed up of taking on last Minute Shifts for Assholes who aren't reliable.   You can't plan your Day or your Meals etcetera when you're not given adequate notice to Work a Shift.  And, I'm a Full Time Caregiver, so I have to ensure I have coverage at Home for The Man, before I can accommodate someone with a Special Request to cover for someone else.   Anyway, I didn't feel like going back, I'd only just gotten Home from working my Showroom a couple Hours beforehand.   So, I'd just finished Dinner and settled in to watch Comedians D.L. Hughley and Kevin Hart's new Specials on NetFlix.

The Christmas Events will be this Month at all the Occasional Sale Shows, so, I'm looking forward to that.   Most of them kick off on the Weekend close to the 14th... thru the Weekend close to the 21st... each Event last 4 Days from a Thurs-Sun..   I will be in the Christmas Spirit by Mid-November and will be contemplating my own Interior Decor for Christmas.  I don't Decorate the Exterior for Christmas, never really have very much except a few Vintage Blow-Molds every so often... or plain faux Pine Wreaths and Garlands... sometimes.   At the Villa McManse it had an Upstairs and a Balcony, so I'd hang the Vintage Santa Head Blow Molds off the Upstairs Balcony and Windows of the 2nd Floor.  But, at this Property there is no place to really properly Display the Vintage Santa Head Blow Molds and big Blow Mold Vintage Nativities.  I have Two different Vintage large Blow Mold Nativities.

They would look Cool in the Front Yard but then you'd have to make sure they didn't blow away during Storms and you'd have to move them in order to cut the Grass with the Tractor Mower.  I'm just too Lazy, so, haven't Displayed them.   I could easily Sell them, but haven't wanted to let them go yet either, even tho' Vintage Blow Mold Holiday Decorations now Sell for a lot.   I do have some Dr. Seuss Vintage Blow Mold Characters too, Cindy Lou Who and the Dog Max from the Grinch who Stole Christmas.   They are my Favorites and yet, I haven't Displayed them either.   You do sometimes hear of Porch Pirates Stealing expensive Holiday Decorations from Yard Displays, so, that always is a concern and risk too. 

I have been Downsizing Christmas Decorations and Purging a lot of them in recent Years tho', and may do that again this Season.   Seasonal Vintage Decor does Sell well, especially Christmas.   Many Vendors at our Mall even Specialize in nothing but Seasonal Decor for Christmas.  They have entire Booths filled with it.  I'm just not that Obsessed with Christmas Decorating anymore like I used to be.  Some of my earlier Collections were Hallmark and Anna Lee Christmas Tree Decorations.  For Years I expanded on the Collections, since my early Teens.  But, I Sold Off almost all the Anna Lee Christmas Tree Decorations and Christmas Anna Lee Characters.  I had all sizes, up to and including full sized.   Now I'm contemplating if some of the Vintage Hallmark Christmas Tree Ornaments should be Edited and Purged ... I have so many, more than One Tree's worth and we don't do multiple Trees anymore.   No Space here to in the Main House.  And, often it's all I can do to get One Tree up.  *LOL*

There are even some Years I've gone very Simplistic and Rustic with Christmas Decorating in order to keep it Simple and easy to put up and take back down.   I am not sure this Year how I'll Decorate the Christmas Tree or where I plan to put it up.  We don't have a lot of Placement Options here like we have in previous Homes tho'.   I was Spoiled for Choice at the Historic Home and the Villa McManse, many different Rooms to choose to put up a Tree, or multiple Trees if I felt Ambitious.   I don't mind always having one in the same spot here, and some Years I've chosen a smaller Tree to keep it even more Simplistic.  Princess T always has one in her Room, so we do have Multiple Trees actually, but she puts up and takes her own Tree down.

Right now we've got one larger Boxed Tree laying out on the Back Porch, so I'll probably just use that one to get it out of the way.  *LOL*   Not sure if it's pre-lit or not?   So... if it's not I might just poke around in The RV Garage Mahal to see what other Trees we never got rid of?   I know I used to have a White Tree and if we still have it, I'd like to go with a White Tree this Year actually.   The last time we put up the White Tree was the Year we were Selling the Villa McManse during the Holidays.  It looked Splendid even tho' we kept it Simple due to Showing the House and when we Sold it right away, we barely made it thru the Holiday Season before having to give possession to the New Buyer.  We actually Bought and Moved In to this Property right after the New Year and just before Pandemic hit hard.  That was therefore a Crazy Holiday Season of late 2019 and early 2020.

I think the worst possible Timing to decide or have to Move would be during the Holidays.  I'd never want to Move again in this Lifetime, but especially not during the Holiday Season and have it so disrupted.  Yet, in Arizona, Temperature Wise it's the best Timing to, so you have to decide which is worse, trying to do a big Move when it's high Triple Digits, or wait for the Fall/Winter when it's Cool enuf to do all that Work and Store things temporarily in a Non-Climate controlled Space?   It's easier to Sell a Home being Lived In and not Vacant, during the Holidays, when it looks Inviting, has a Festive Atmosphere, and Smells great with all the Holiday Aromas people fondly remember and Love.  I must saying Showing the Villa McManse during the Holidays Closed the Deal quickly, we didn't even have that many potential Buyers come thru before someone Paid our Ask Price and wanted it right away.  The only thing that potentially might have been better was a Bidding War.  *LOL*

Our Buyer ended up being a Cash Investor who would and could Close right away becoz they were Buying it as an Income Property to make into an Air B&B Party House.   When we Sold the Historic Property, same thing, Mr. Avila was a Preservationist Cash Buyer who Closed in a Day.  And the same with a Property even before that one, a Retired Elderly Couple Bought that one, Paid Cash, and Closed right away... so, we never had to wait to Transfer Title and be Done with it quickly and virtually without any risk of someone backing out or not being able to Perform.   The problem we had, was usually with Sellers not being able to Perform when we were Buying, and could Close quickly becoz we were Pre-Qualified.   I never expected a Seller to be unable to Perform, it was a very Odd problem to experience time and time again, who knew?

I still think Interest Rates are too High and there's a glut in the Housing Market right now, so it's definitely not a Buyer or a Seller's Market.  They keep Building and so many are languishing Vacant and even the more desirable areas have For Sale Signs all over the place now.   Listings are on the Market for a long, long time, not a good Sign either, to see so many Stale Listings.   Tho' Properties like ours are in high Demand, since the City doesn't have any New Mini Farm Communities they're Building or even Zoning for.   So you always get Investors asking to Buy and we have to keep declining, not Interested, this is our Forever Home.  High Density Housing is the trend right now and so they have too much of it and it's all too expensive... and... IMO... poorly built with HOA's, which, are The Devil.

So, how did Halloween go for all of you?   And what are you Planning for Thanksgiving and what are you most Thankful for?   And... at what Timing are you ready to get into the Christmas Vibe?  *Winks*   I really do Love the Holiday Season and everything about all of it, so, from the prelude to Halloween thru the New Year ringing in, is some of my favorite times and Seasons.   So much to do tho' and so little Time to do it...  doesn't it all seem to warp by now?   Seems the Older I get, the Faster Time speeds up and passes by...

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Great Autumnal Vibes to you my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian