I made cookie dough Saturday night, and the actual cookies last night for my BS friends… we gathered tonight for our Christmas celebration… the five of us have met most Monday evenings for nearly 25 years… we have met in person, as well as by speaker phone… we have gone through life together, and have held one another up through various difficulties… we have also laughed and shared wonderful times…

it had been so long since I last baked that I couldn’t remember where the rolling pin was, but eventually I found it… I prefer making dinner to baking and since I no longer have to make cookies for school occasions for the girls, baking doesn’t occur around here very often… but, whenever I prepare food for people, whether it is soup, a dip, a main course, or even cookies, I spend the time thinking about the particular people who will be eating whatever it is I am making… I find it very satisfying to watch people enjoy the offering, knowing that I have taken special care to produce it…

lovely tree sugar cookies…

tonight we ate treats, shared gifts around the circle, and enjoyed much laughter and love…

they were here the night the police came to the door to tell me that George had been in a car accident, and likely suffered a heart attack… one came with me to the hospital and the others closed up the house and went off to share the news and come to be with me… I do not know where I would have been without them that night… it was horrible and hard but having them around me was so comforting…

what if I had been alone, how would I have managed, who would have held my hand… they are my rock, my strength and they hold me up… no one knows me like they do…

what a gift that they were here… and that they continue with me in my new life…