The Post-Christmas Wind Down Has Now Officially Begun

 

It's still Christmas Day, but Evening now, everyone had decided to just Chill at Home.  The Son BBQed Cheddar Brats, they were delicious.  We watched "Home Alone" I {1990} and II {1992}.  The Original is the best, but the 2nd Sequel wasn't too bad for a Sequel.  He was such a good little Actor and so adorable in that role.   We watch it every Christmas, it's a Tradition and we never tire of it, it's stood the test of Time as an Iconic Christmas Movie.  It's Silly Slapstick, Humorous and Touching at the same time, with a good Message in each Movie made.   I'm sappy about good Messaging in a Movie.

When we were passing thru "Dillard's" Department Store on Christmas Eve they were already taking everything Christmas down.  They often have the best Trees, so I did Photograph them even tho' they'd taken all the Decorations off them already and were ready to take the Tree Displays down and Box them up For Sale or whatever they do with them.   The Anna Lee Line has always been big at "Dillard's" and the first time I'd ever seen the Line in the early 1970's and began Collecting a scant few.   By the time I was Old I'd Collected enuf to Decorate an entire Anna Lee Tree.  But, when I needed Money I Sold them at the Antique Mall and now only have a few left again.   They are still so expensive at full retail.  I only kept most of my Halloween Anna Lee Line.  

I had Sticker Shock when I priced even the smallest of them, yowsah!   No Wonder when I've ever got any For Sale in my Showroom they're a Quick Turn at my Price Point!  *LOL*   They do carry some Amazing Decorations and the various Lines "Dillard's" carries are some of my favs but the prices are so high I rarely ever Buy until or unless they go on deep Discount after the Holidays.   Oddly they had a Christmas Dia de los Muertos Line, which is not Holiday Appropriate, but, they were Cute and I'd use them during Dia de los Muertos in late October and early November when it's actually Celebrated.   I Photographed them too coz they were decent Blog Fodder Imagery and I guess some people would use them for Christmas?   I mean it's now become an Americanized hijacked Holiday they've Commercialized and probably have no Idea of the actual Cultural Meaning of? *LOL*

This was the Dia de los Muertos Christmas Wreath and the Price was Super Sticker Shock and they had a lot of them left due to how high Priced they were.  Even if they went down to 50% Off they'd still be too expensive IMO, if that gives you a Clue!   Below were the Catrina's, and like I said, if someone doesn't know Why or When that Holiday is actually Celebrated, perhaps a Christmas Line of it might make more sense to them than it did to me.  *LOL*   But, then again, hey, not Judging, we put up a Feng Shui Asian Themed Christmas Tree... so... I totally get the Appeal of doing something completely different and not Traditional in the least.  *Smiles*   When you're Decorating, anything goes really and I did like this Wreath a lot.

The Dia de los Muertos Themed Christmas Tree Decor was done Talavera Style, so they were pretty and unique.  I guess if you had a Pueblo or Hacienda Styled Home it would look really Architecturally appropriate to have Christmas Decorations like these with a decidedly unusual Southwest and South of the Border Theme to it.   It could grow on me as an alternative to Styling this way for Christmas, since I do like the Stylization and like I said, might be more inclined to incorporate it into my actual Dia de los Muertos Celebration we do right around Halloween thru November 2nd.   This was the first Year I didn't put up an Altar and next Year I definitely will coz we'll be a lot more Organized by next Autumn and know where all our Seasonal Decor is.

Plus, we plan to take every Tree out of it's Box and permanently Display most of them in The RV Garage Mahal in order to enjoy the Collection of Seasonal Decorations I've spent a Lifetime accumulating.  It will also make it easier to continue to Downsize the Collection more easily if it's always accessible and I need or want some Seasonal Merch for the Showroom in the Future.   The Kiddos haven't shown any particular attachments to my Seasonal Decor and haven't asked for any, so, except for the Heirlooms that have been handed down now for over 100 Years in our Family, anything else could be Bought even if it wasn't For Sale.  *Smiles*  Yes, I have some European Blown Glass Ornaments that were Inherited from my Mom's side, my Maternal Great-Great-Grandmother's originally well over a Century ago.

"Dillard's" and "Cracker Barrel" carry a very unusual Line of Christmas Tree Ornaments that are so Cool.   I particularly liked these One Arm Bandit ones and some Magic Eight Ball ones.   Below is a whole Box of very Old Ornaments in an Old Ornament Box that I Scored at a Chazza for about Four Bucks... there turned out to be 13 of them in here and only Two had slight damage, that could be fixed with some E-6000 where the Hangar Top attaches to the Glass Ornament.  Slight chips in the Glass part where the Metal Hangar attached to it made it so that the Hangar wasn't all that secure to risk trying to hang them before I made a repair to Glue it on permanently to secure it better.   I Love the Graphics on these Old Ornament Storage Boxes too.   I will even Buy the Packaging without Ornaments if I find it at a Chazza, to use to Store Old Ornaments.

Will I go trawl some After Christmas Sales?   Probably, depending on how I Feel, I'm taking it one day at a time with how I'm recovering Post Stroke.   I want to enjoy every Day to the fullest, but not overdo any of it.   The Docs didn't give me many restrictions actually which was a relief.   Usually it's my Body or my Brain that Dials me back right now.  When either says "Enough!!!" to me, well, that's enuf Todaying then for that Day.  *Smiles*    It did that Today after we opened Pressies and took our Pixs, I Rested for Hours after that until I felt like I'd recharged Physically and Mentally again.   I am Tiring Out quite easily right now and must slowly build up my Stamina.  I may do the Sauna and the Hydrotherapy Massage at the Gym, but was told by my Specialists at the Hospital not to engage in an Exercise Regimen for now.

And I don't Plan anything Special for the rest of the Year or even for New Year's Eve.   We haven't done anything for New Years for so long now I can't remember the last time we did.   We hear everyone Celebrating raucously, we just don't.   It seems too many folks get carried away at New Year's Eve and I just don't wanna be out and about in the Chaos and Drunkenness, which tends to cause many to become so uninhibited and under the influence that they do foolish and dangerous things.   I absolutely refuse to Drive on a New Year's Eve and have told all my Adult Kiddos that if they go out and Drink, just make sure it's somewhere they can and will spend the Night.  Then sober up, and then come Home the next Day of the New Year, so they'll be Safe and won't get Arrested either or need me to come get them and risk my own Safety. 

One thing "Dillard's" had and usually has a Line of are these elaborate full scale faux Gingerbread House Creations.   They are very expensive, but, it would be lovely to have a Collection of them if you could afford to.  They look like actual Gingerbread and Food.   Of coarse my Granddaughter always Creates a Real One every Year and I guess if you were to add up the Costs of doing that Annually from the Kits, which aren't Cheap now either, perhaps Buying one of these to Display wouldn't seem all that expensive really?   *LOL*   I just don't wanna have a lot more Seasonal items to Store, takes up a lot of Space and we never have Rented Offsite Storage like some people do for their Seasonal Decorations and other excess Stuff.  Photographing it and Blogging about it is Enough for me at this Season of Life.  *Smiles*

Plus, when you get to a certain Age, how much Sentiment or Nostalgia will ever really be attached to whatever you Buy now?   *Smiles*   I'm now letting my Adult Kids and Adult Grandkids start incorporating their own meaningful Traditions and Rituals, and keep or discard any of those passed along that just don't hold a lot of Meaning to them now.   It is funny to me tho' how much my Adult Kiddos and Adult Grandchild talked about what Traditions and Rituals we've always had DO mean a lot more to them than I ever realized.   And I know I held on tightly to many my own Parents passed along and then passed along as well.  We incorporated some new ones along the way, becoz as Families grow, and new Family Members come in with their own ways to Celebrate, you just keep adding more than you'd be subtracting.

I would have liked to have added some of these Glass Rainbow Ornaments, but, they were spendy, and breakable, so, I didn't.  Perhaps if they go on Deep Discount I will coz we often Love to have a Colorful Themed Tree.   We consider our Family the "Rainbow Tribe" and so it's very fitting, we're a Colorful and Diverse Family for sure.  *Smiles*  And it seemed like they had a lot of these left that hadn't been Sold, so perhaps they'll be deeply Discounted to get rid of them?  So, I'll go back and see how much they mark them down?   Even if I don't get anything marked down after Christmas, I got the Blog Fodder Eye Candy of it by preserving it from behind the Lens.   I do that without embarrassment or inhibitions anywhere and everywhere.  *LOL*   Oddly, people like to strike up and initiate conversations with me when they see me randomly Photographing things, it's a great Conversation Starter with Strangers I guess.

Many will ask what I'm taking the Photos for?   And then I can tell them I Blog and quite a few will ask for the Name of my Blog and thus, more become Dear Readers and may even remind me of where and when we met in Person.   I just Loved this Rainbow Ornament Garland and it was unbreakable, so if it goes on Deep Discount and they have some left I'm definitely getting at least One of those.   So, I Plan Tomorrow Morning to go back to The Mall and "Dillard's" to see what of this they have left?  I still have all the Money Princess T gave me since I'd found nothing I wanted before Christmas and intentionally Saved all of it for any Post Holiday Sales to get more Bang for my Buck.  *Smiles*   Her Uncle was Glad she gave him Cash too, always the Right Size and Right Color.  Always Useful and Appreciated.  *Winks*

I'm gonna Miss when all the Seasonal Holiday Decor is down and gone and everything returns to boring Normal.  *Smiles*   I know, I know, I'd hang on to every Holiday far too long and Burn you all Out on it, but that's just how I am.  I Savor Holidays a longer time than most people seem to, it's the Kid in me I guess to where I never Tire of any of it and find Joy in all of it, so, I personally extend it.   Why Not?  There's not real Rules that say you can't or shouldn't, especially in your own Spaces.   And I often liken it to those who follow and Love Sports and their Teams, they never Tire of any of that, so, it makes them Happy to immerse in it as much, or as little, as they want to.   Some have no Saturation Point for their Teams and preferred Sports.   Our Oldest Daughter and her Kiddos are gaga about Sports and their fav and Local Teams there in Pittsburgh, it's their Passion and they're Super Fans.

And now they are on to the 3rd Plus Generation of Super Fans of their Teams.  *LOL*   I think my Great-Grands in Pennsylvania have been to more Games than any of us ever have, including my Kiddos here, who Love Sports but rarely attend Games, they watch them on TV.   It's very expensive to go to Games Locally and I just won't pay the Prices, nor will my Kiddos, it's prohibitive.   The Son has Worked Security at some tho', and he does go to a lot of Music Concerts tho'.   He feels they are well worth the Cost and the last one he went to was The Rolling Stones.  He said he was Amazed at how these Geriatric Rockers were still performing so well, Dancing their Asses off like they weren't 80, and putting on one helluva Show.   He said even in his 30's, he had perhaps half the Energy and half the Fitness, and have the Moves of Mick Jagger.  *LOL*   I got a T-Shirt from that Concert here in Glendale, AZ.   The Concert was Promoted as being in Phoenix, but it was in Metro Phoenix, and at the Glendale Cardinal's Stadium near us.

Most folks who live in the Metro Phoenix Area, when asked where we live by Non-Residents, just say Phoenix.  Since then they know where that is, they wouldn't necessarily know the Names of all the Cities touching Phoenix's Borders that make up all of Metro Phoenix's Five Plus Million Residents.   We forgot we had the Crackers on the Tree to Pull and Pop, they're tiny ones but seemed to sound like they had decent Prizes as the Contents.   Modern Christmas Crackers don't have the Cool Toys they used to Hold when I was a Kid, like Cracker Jack they began putting shit Prizes in most now.  But, these little ones have proven to have decent little Prizes so far plus a Joke Sheet inside that is Funny with Kid appropriate Jokes.   We've only pulled One so far, Princess T and I, it held a tiny Silver Cute Key Shaped Metal Bracelet Charm and the Joke Sheet.

They looked really Cute on our Colorful Feng Shui Tree too just laying on the Branches.   Princess T Hates the smell of the Gunpowder of the Popper mechanism and Eli was smelling the Air like WTF?!   The Sound didn't bother him at all, Fireworks have been going on all Night long so he's not the least bit phased by Pops and Bangs.   We'll Pull more of them Tomorrow after she gets off Work, the Adult Kids might want to Pull some too, it's been a Tradition every Year I can find Crackers.  It used to be hard to find them in America, in Europe they are common and my Mom's Country had the best ones IMO.   My Welsh Nanna would sometimes send us some during the Holidays, they always had great Toys in them and Crepe Paper Colorful Crowns.  

 We enjoyed the Crackers as much as the Presents under the Tree.   In Years I could not find any we'd make our own with Toilet Paper Rolls, Wrapping Paper and 4th of July or Cap Gun Gunpowder elements to make the Pop and Gumball Machine Toys inside.   I also like these little Orphaned Shaker Decorations and plan to make some next Year.  You can always find Crystal Vintage Orphaned S&P Shakers at Chazzas.  I have Premade ones I Bought, but would like to make some of our own as a Craft Project for the Holidays.   Of coarse it's one of those things that every Year I say, let's make some of our own next Year... ha ha ha.   Well, I do the same with Christmas Cookies... but end up going to the Bakeries becoz they always will do a better job of it and save me the Work and trouble.  *Smiles*   The ones pictured Below are so Beautiful.  I've seen some remarkable Holiday Cookies, it's become quite the Art Form and elevated, hasn't it? 

I always Save my Fav Pixs of Holiday Cookies for Inspiration, AS IF I'll ever replicate them.  *Bwahahahahaha*   Something like this would also make a fabulous Christmas Tree Ornament tho' out of the Dough Ornament Recipe you can make of Non-Edible permanent Ornaments.   Could you Imagine a whole Tree Decorated with these Snowflake Cookies like those pictured Above?  It would be Gorgeous and I also think if you had the Skill set to make them, profitable to Sell as well during the Holidays.  Either as Cookies or as Tree Ornaments.  Our Italian Bakery Cookies never made it to Christmas, we practically OD'd on them a Week beforehand and COULD BE why my A1C was back up to 8... just a Wild Guess?  *Le Sigh*   I've mostly behaved during the Holidays but I have had some Temptations I didn't resist entirely.

The Daughter was Decorating clear up to Christmas Eve, she put a lot more Christmas Decor on the Front Porch that she found in The RV Garage Mahal.   So my Stags made an Appearance again for the first time since our Big Move.   The last time they were on Display was the last Christmas we spent at Villa Boheme', The McManse.   They were from a Retired Line Sold at TARGET.   And as I recall they were from the Magnolia Line by Chip and Joanna Gaines which I happen to really like and am Glad that TARGET still carries.   Over the Years they've carried lots of Famous Designer Lines I like and would Buy, including Rachel Ashwell, back when Shabby Chic was a Thing.   The Daughter wouldn't let me Sell Off more of that Line coz she Adores it and has Decorated her Spaces with it.   Princess T never liked how Feminine it was and she just didn't have any attraction to it.

She went Bananas with my Pinecones, especially those we'd put Glitter on one Year and Kept.   They all have fallen off our Mature Pine Trees and we Keep the best shaped ones and burn the rest when we light up the Firepit.  We'll often melt aromatic Waxes on those we plan to Burn, it makes them burn longer and smell Divine.   Anyway, I'm Glad that The Daughter is having such a Big Time spending her first Christmas here at Home with us.  Yes, she's Lived with us now for a few Years but she always had to return to Mexico in previous Years due to various Crisis going on with the Children there and the Paternal side of the Family.   They needed her more than we did so we'd send her back over to sort out what was needed and then the Holidays would be over by the time she got to return.

Since I got out of the Hospital all the Kiddos have Opted Out of Invites from their Friends and stayed Home a lot to be with The Man and I.  So, I know my Stroke scared them all more than they're letting on and tho' I do appreciate the concern, if any damage was done from the Stroke, it's seeming negligible and appearing not to be affecting my quality of Life.   So, I do Hope they eventually return to their Normal Routines and not fear that I'm circling the Drain.  *Smiles*  They are all stepping up tho', which I did Need everyone to do and may continue to Need them to do and they seem to have full realization of that Fact.   Just the Normal Aging Process would have dictated that at some point in Time tho'.   Been there and done that with my own Parents when they reached a certain Season of Life to need more Help from me.  You never wanna be a Burden to your Children or Grandchildren, but, Aging Out can be burdensome to extended Family nonetheless.

  

Above and Below are just a couple of the Trees at "Dillard's" that they still had standing, even tho' they'd taken all the Ornaments off them and they were bare.   I think they have some of the best Christmas Trees, but, also some of the most expensive ones.   I've Invested in some decent Faux Trees but I couldn't and wouldn't pay these Prices for one, so, I've always just Admired them and Photographed them.  Some Products are just out of my League financially and a lot of what's in "Dillard's" would qualify for that.   That's also Why in the Far West Valley you mostly see that "Dillard's" has converted all their Stores in this demographic location into "Outlet Dillard's".   Then it just looks like a Thrift Shop extension of the Company and they don't even bother to make the Stores look appealing or tidy and Merchandise any of it well, so, I rarely Shop there.

 

That said, I will go back to a Main Store Today at the Big Mall for the After Christmas Markdowns.   Before they just cart it off to the Outlet locations where it will be like a Hot Mess of unbought New Old Stock Product jumbled unappealingly.   I just Love a good Merchandised Product and Vignette, it's Why I prefer to Shop at Events and Shows, they Rock the way they Display their Merch.   Even some Big Box Stores like TARGET have begun to have sections of Designer Product they Display way better now and Showcase the Merch better than the typical Aisles just slapped on Shelving unappealingly and looking boringly Mass Produced and without Quality.   I do Love a good Chazza tho', I ain't gonna Lie, the Thrill Of The Hunt at those Appeals to me, you never know what Treasures you're gonna Score Secondhand and at a ridiculously low Price Point compared to their actual Value? 

Yes, I've got a bounty of all of that and I often Resell it at a Profit anytime I either need the discretionary supplemental income to our Pensions, or just Tire of it and wanna flip it and get a Return on my Investment.   And thus the Downsizing Process is probably never gonna be completed in my Lifetime and I know this, so I just Edit and Purge it as I get around to it, Culling Possessions is a Constant.   The Daughter is getting adept at rotating things in and out of the Main House and her Spaces now in the 5th Wheel... out of the RV Garage Mahal.   I even forgot so much of what she's finding in there.  *LOL*   She said every Day is like Christmas to her since she's moved back Home, coz of what she discovers that I have Squirrelled away.  *Bwahahaha*  

 Princess T told her Mom that's Why she never really Needs or asks for much on Special Occasions.  Becoz she can usually just Find it somewhere Gramma put it and Forgot about it, ask for it, and now it's hers.  *Bwahahaha*   That's not hyperbole BTW, it's the Truth.  *Smiles*   All the Kiddos know they can just "Shop" here at Home and never have to hit a Store for something and actually Buy it.  *LOL*  And I recall my own Mom was very much like that, she had ALL The Good Stuff and so if I Needed something really Nice, Mom usually had it and perhaps more than One of it.  *Winks*  So, the Apple didn't fall far from the Tree and we've always Shared each other's Stuff freely all of my Life between Generations of Family.   Yes, it's Technically Mine, but anyone can use it, and mebbe even transfer Ownership of it if they just Ask.  *LOL*

When I've had some Friends say, "But YOU Bought it Dawn...", I'm like, So What, my Kiddos Buy me stuff all the time and just give it to me too.  So, it's not like they're Taking and not also Giving, we just don't keep track or keep Score.   So stuff is just being Exchanged between us all the time and if they've got something I wanna use or borrow, I just Ask and I've never had any of them say No either.  *Smiles*   We're probably gonna be Buying Eli another Cat Tree, he's so Big now he's destroyed his Old One, since, he's the Weight of a small Dog it gets wobbly and so we have to keep reinforcing it or taking the upper Tiers down so it's safer for him.  *LOL*   I've been looking for a good secondhand one Donated to a Chazza, but every one I've seen has been pretty abused by it's previous Feline Owner.   New ones are a considerable outlay but he does Love his Cat Trees and Scratching Post, so he uses them all the time until they're worn out and need replacement.  So... it's Time again.

I mean, just look at the Size of this Tomcat!   And his Belly Skin swings from side to side when he walks now, but, he doesn't appear to be overweight, just a very Big Boy.   And, frankly, he's a Maine Coon Cat Mix, so that's Normal for the Breed to grow to be enormous.   A full Breed Maine Coon Cat would even be bigger, we had one named Fluffy, when I was a Child and she was the Size of a Lynx and looked so much like one that my Dad asked the Native American Woman we got her from if perhaps she was at least part Wild Lynx!?   Old Missus Audis was notorious for having Domestic Pets and Wild Pets all over her House, to me as a little Kid, her Home was Awesome and like nothing I'd ever seen.  She was Married to an Old White Trapper, she was Wabanaki, but I don't know what Clan... Wabanaki is the collective Term used for at least Four Clans of Maine Indigenous peoples.

I remember my Mom got Rheumatic Fever while we lived in Maine and was losing her Hair from it.  She was a Young Woman and so that was a Big Deal and Doctors had no Cure.   So my Dad told her to go across the Street to Old Missus Audis, the Medicine Woman, and ask her about a Native Remedy.   Next thing we knew, Old Missus Audis, she went out and shot a Bear!  Then rendered the Fat down in this big Black Cauldron she used to Cook on Outside, put it in a Skippy Peanut Butter Jar and gave it to Mom with instructions to put and massage it into her Scalp and remaining Hair.  It smelled quite vile, and looked like Vaseline, but, all my Mom's Hair not only came back, but it came back Lusher than before she got ill!   So, any time us Kids got Sick when we Lived in Maine, we never went to a Doctor, Dad took us over to Old Missus Audis the Medicine Woman, for Treatment, and we always got Well.

  So, Old Missus Audis had a Cure for Baldness way back then in the early 1960's from Tribal Knowledge of Cures for Stuff.  Anytime you had something Wrong with ya, she had a Remedy or Potion for it made from what she found in the Natural World around her.  She was the Medicine Woman of the Community.  Mom kept that Jar of Bear Grease in our Fridge 'til it got all used up.  *LOL*   We've always got Weird stuff in our Fridges, my Friends always Joke with me about that and what Holistic, Eastern Medical or Tribal Remedy in a Jar or Bottle I got in there all the time.  *Bwahahahaha*   I use a lot of Chinese Medicine too, my Welsh Gran-Gran was Raised by a Chinese Family after his Mom was Widowed during WWI and had Eleven Kids to Raise Alone.  

So, a Childless Chinese Couple she knew took the Youngest Five and Raised them for her as their own.  People thus always assumed my Gran-Gran was a Grey Eyed Eurasian, since he was swarthy, with High Cheekbones, Didi Kai, and so didn't look typically Anglo anyway, and spoke fluent Welsh and Chinese.   I used to Love when he'd take us to Chinatown for Meals and get the Real Deal Chinese Food they'd bring out that wasn't always on the Menu for their British Customers.   We'd just let Gran-Gran Order for us speaking in Chinese and have the best Meals ever, that I haven't had matched yet in any American Chinese Restaurant to date.   The closest I came in Phoenix was a place called "The Gourmet House Of Hong Kong" that used to be in Central Phoenix, sadly gone now.  It had really unusual and sometimes controversial Chinese Fare on their Menu like Bird Nest Soup and Chicken Feet.  Almost all their Customers would be Asians in the Community wanting Authentic Chinese Cuisine.

I'm such a Foodie that I like to try different Cuisines from around the World.   Even some Fear Factor Foods don't phase me, but, I do have my aversions.  If it's still Looking at me, No Thanks.  *Bwahahaha*   But, I'll try most anything Once, Twice or more if I Like it.  *Winks*   I have eaten some Insect Foods, they're not Bad and usually taste Nutty to me... or very Sweet.   I can see why in many Cultures it's a delicacy and a good Source of Protein.   My Mom grew up Harvesting a lot of Wild Foods, especially during the War when they were on strict Food Rations, and of coarse my Dad grew up foraging too.   So there are foraging Foods I know are edible and quite good.   And I sure wish I could remember for sure which Wild Weed growing along the Irrigation Ditches my Elderly Mexican National Friend Vidal used to pick and put with Pinto Beans, coz it was freakin' delicious.  I think it was Purslane.   He called it Verdolagas.

Above is the Oldest Granddaughter and her Hubby who live in Pennsylvania.  Hard to Believe half of our Grandkids are fast approaching Middle Age now, where did the Time go?!   Holy shit!!!    I mean it seems like only a Minute ago she was only Princess T's Age {Below} and now she's already in her 30's!!!   The Son always found it Strange to be an Uncle whose in the same Decade of Age as his Older Nieces, since, he's our "Baby" and there is a big Age difference between all Three of our Adult Kiddos.   So, his Sisters were having Kids while he was still a Kid not much Older than the Kids they were having.  *LOL*   And he HATED that his Nieces always had Friends that thought they had a really Hawt Uncle.   Talk about awkward!!!!!!    *Bwahahahaha*   And I still remember, as a small Child he said we could NOT be called Grandma or Grandpa until we had White Hair!   And he Laughs about that now coz I still don't have White Hair and I'm in Great-Gramma territory now.

He used to be very jealous of this Granddaughter becoz she's only a few Years Younger than he is and took some of our attention away from him, or so he thought.  And then, when his Younger Sister had Kids we were Raising, well, that was a whole other Jealousy Factor.  I remember once when he was a Teen and he yelled that there were too many Kids in the House and The Young Prince deadpanned, "Well, you're almost Grown, so, just Move Out...", coz he wanted their Room all to himself!!!  *LMAOROTF*    Oh Yeah, The Son and The Young Prince have always sparred more like Brothers than Uncle and Nephew, coz there's not a big Age difference there either, so the Sibling Rivalry could be Fierce!   And they both have exceedingly high IQ's, but also Disabilities involving Mental Health, so it could get very interesting and epic how they'd 

Square Off with one another.  Ah Yes, it could be Dinner and a Show. *Smiles*

  Mostly on an Intellectual Level coupled with an Idiot Savant Level their respective Mental Health Conditions brought to the Table.   A Bipolar Autistic and a Paranoid Schizophrenic with Multiple Personalities walk into a Room... kinda Joke.   *LOL*   And becoz The Young Prince has always been Fabulously Gay and quite The Diva, he'd always get the Upper Hand in any Throw Down.   It would drive The Son Mad, coz he said it was like arguing with a Vengeful Woman and there's no Winning THAT Argument!  *LMAOROTF and Winks*   I don't even like having an Argument with The Young Prince, he's so damned Logical and Argumentative you'd think he was a fucking Defense Attorney... I think he missed his Calling as one actually.  He could Defend The Devil and Win the Case before a Jury, I Swear!!!   You just end up resorting to saying something Childish and Stupid in your own Defense after a while of Arguing with him!  *LOL*

Speaking of The Young Prince I'm Worried about him, since he wasn't taking Calls on Christmas Day or responding to anyone's Messages and E-Mails or Texts either and he despairs easily and battles Clinical Depression.  I knew he wasn't in a good Head Space for the Holidays due to the whole thing going on between he and Allen being estranged and heading for Divorceville.   And, he really wanted to be Home in Arizona with all his Possessions, and not still there, so, my Stupid Stroke cocked all of that up.   The Niece was gonna go get him for us but he just felt with my current Health Issues, he didn't wanna be one more thing for me to Deal with right now.   So, he and Allen agreed to just live separate lives and share Space for now and try to do so civilly and amicably as possible.  Which is never an Ideal Situation to be in as a Couple, even if you're Well and Mentally Stable, and neither of them are.  So, I knew Christmas was gonna be very hard for him this Year to get thru.   He did finally give me a short Merry Christmas on FB Messenger this Morning so as not to Worry me right now.

I just want him to hang in there until he can get Home after the New Year and we sort it all out with the logistics and expense of it all.   I'm thinking conservatively it's gonna be about $500-$600 to get him back Home with all his Stuff and he doesn't have any Income of his own.   I'm not counting on Allen bankrolling it, tho', he might, I haven't spoken to him and feel it's probably best not to actually.   Their Marriage Issues are their Business as Grown Ass Men so I am not getting drawn in to anyone's Relationship Drama and a Headache, No Thank You.   I know I once had a Friend that profoundly Joked that with any Breakup there's always Three Sides to the Story:  What He Said, what She {or Same Sex Partner} Said, and The Truth.  *Smiles and Winks*   And I don't Need or Wanna know whose allegedly at Fault.   Arizona is a No Fault State so you can get a Divorce from here without anyone taking the 'Blame' or being the Villain.

Listen, I can come up with enuf reasons of my own to not Like someone, so, I don't need to Dislike anyone becoz of what someone else is going thru with them.   *LOL*   And, I do Like Allen so I Wish him Well even after he's out of our Lives and it's kind of a Be Well and Be Gone scenario if that's how it's to Play Out with he and The Young Prince.   They have no Children so there's no Need for contact once they are Living their Best Lives independent of one another.   That's all I'm conveying to The Young Prince at this time... if an amicable breakup is possible, it's preferable to a bitter one any day.   And speaking of Breakups and Makeups, I Guess that Princess T and Rusty are renewing their Relationship SOME.   So, they're spending time together again and she still really Likes him, but he claims to be in Love with her, and that was the Issue.   She felt he was ready for something she was not and she didn't wanna lead him on thinking she'd get there... she might not.

 Most of his Friends told him to Move On, she's Over You, but his Best Friend told him that he felt it was worth him pursuing another shot, so, they're giving that a Test Run apparently.  She likes spending Time with him, and she really does Care about him and knows he's a really Good Guy, and he is.   She doesn't like Dating and doesn't wanna be in the Dating Pool and potentially fall in Love with some Jerk.  She just felt he was getting too Serious and she's not ready for that level of Commitment, even tho' she doesn't want nor Plan to see anyone else.  He was contacting other Females, but she felt it was just to make her Jealous, he's no Player-Player, Smiles, and it did make her feel some kind of way that he might just Move On and perhaps he'd been worth more effort on her part?   Since, he'd done nothing to cause a breakup and she didn't want him thinking he had.

I just think she's Young and doesn't wanna make long-term Commitment Yet.  She doesn't wanna be Married and she definitely doesn't wanna have Kids, so, she feels she wants to just be Single and Non-Committal at 19, which is Okay.   She's not one to feel the Need to have a Boyfriend, she has lotsa People who enjoy her Company and don't want to force or expect it to be Romantic in any way.   I Get It, I was like that clear into my Late 20's actually, Marriage was the furthest thing from my Mind until I was in my early 30's actually and met The Man.   I'd been a Single Parent for many Years and had no problems with that either, it's harder, but, if you're Successful and very Independent, I didn't Need a Man to Complete me nor to Support me either.  I earned way more than any Guy I ever Dated anyway, including The Man.  I was always Happily Single and it was a conscious Choice to be.   And I think The Young Prince will now choose to be Happily Single, he's got plenty of Family who Love him unconditionally.  Above is he and his Proud Mom at his Wedding.

 So, I wasn't that Gal looking for some Knight on a White Horse to 'rescue' me and none of my Kids feel they need to be a "Rescue" either.   The Middle Daughter has NEVER wanted to be Married, even Five Kids later!  *LOL*   And The Son NEVER wants to be Married either and said he's gotten Over even wanting to have Biological Children.  Since he's nearing 40 and doesn't wanna be that 60 Year Old Guy at the High School Graduation Ceremony of his Kid.  *Bwahahahaha*   The Son has Raised and financially Supported Children of long term Girlfriends he's had and Loved as his own.  The Young Prince didn't particularly think he Needed to be Married, but, he felt if he did Marry, he'd be deeply Committed and for Life.   So, he has been, but Allen clearly has not been, so Trust has now been broken due to deception and lack of Honesty about that.   I know my Grandson isn't Traditional and is very Open Minded about Relationships, so, that's not even the Issue for him, it's Trust Broken, and if you can't Trust a Loved One, them earning it back is difficult and causes The Issue.

I can accept anyone's Truth, but I abhor Deception as well.  You can't Trust a Thief or a Liar, so I just don't want anyone with those characteristics around me either, so, I get it.   If The Man couldn't be Trusted, we'd have us a Situation.   The Man agreed that our Grandson deserves to be treated with Trust, Dignity and Respect for his Marriage to work out.   If any of those Three are being violated, it's not gonna work out, Simple as that.   It's not a One Man Show.  If he's done all he possibly can and the Horse is now Dead, it is Time to just Get Off.   That was my Dear Dad's Simple and Profound Statement of Advice when my First Marriage failed miserably and I Solicited his Advice on what should I do.  I agonized about it becoz I never Intended Divorce to be an Option, when I Commit, it's fully and Seriously, to my Vows... but, he simply said, "If the Horse is Dead, get off.."   You know when the Horse is Dead and going nowhere anymore.  Too many folks stay on Dead Horses still expecting to reach a Destination.

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The Post-Christmas Wind Down has now officially begun... Dawn... The Bohemian