Dear Shirley,
The calendar on the wall tells me there are two short weeks between us and Christmas. And you can just feel the stress as you move around Grand Forks these days. There's so much to be done and it seems like there is so little time.
I went over to the church Tuesday evening because Missy Ohe was talking to women of Calvary Lutheran about stress. She's a vibrant woman not quite 40 who has a lot of things figured out. She suggests doing something for yourself before Christmas. Just stop and cool it. Then just be there for others. Slow down enough to see how others feel.
I suppose that is easy enough to say. But when you have family gatherings planned, you almost have to do some baking. You have to come up with gifts for everyone. Then there are cards to mail, decorations to put up and planning for Christmas dinner.
The way I see it, Shirley, is that people try to do too much. This week, I told one of my bridge-playing friends she didn't have to do all that stuff that was putting her on overload. She said oh yes she did have to bake cookies for the Cookie Walk and Victorian Christmas Tea on Saturday in St. Paul's Episcopal Church. She does have to buy gifts. And I couldn't argue with that. Still, something has to give. Maybe you could get by with fewer cookies. Maybe you could send greeting cards in January if you don't have time right now.
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One thing's for sure, Shirley, Christmas will come whether we are ready or not.
Missy Ohe is an inspirational speaker who shows up here and there. She will be on KNOX Radio during the noon hour Dec. 21.
By then, the UND students will be done with finals and scattered for Christmas. This week, stress stalks the campus. They held a De-stress Fest Wednesday in the Memorial Union Loading Dock. They had free massages, food, hot chocolate and apple cider. And along with it, there was Wii snowboarding. Today, Christus Rex is hosting a free holiday lunch buffet, asking only that guests bring non-perishable food items for the food pantry. The UND bookstore is holding a Reading and Review Day on Saturday.
This will be the 38th year that a Christmas Eve community dinner is served at St. Michael's Catholic Church. It's open to those who might be alone as well as for anyone who wants to share in the fellowship. The church seeks volunteers and donations for the whole community to make this dinner possible. They are recruiting volunteer workers and people to bake desserts. Judy Jahnke and Cadence Youngberg are co-chairs of the 2010 Christmas Eve dinner. Right now, they are seeking help. They want people to call the parish office at (701) 772-2624 or log on to gfstmichaels@yahoo.com .
The Hedmans, who have the worst kids in the history of the world, are back, too. They will be appearing in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," which is a tradition at Red River High School. The shows start tonight and run through Sunday. And I heard that Santa is visiting the Campbell Library today in East Grand Forks.
Tell me what's going on in Tucson, Shirley. I know you have different traditions down there on the desert.
Love from your sister, Marilyn, enjoying the sights and sounds of Christmas on the west bank of the frozen Red River of the North.
P.S.: Phillip the Fly hasn't been around lately. I guess that pesky housefly really did go south with the geese. But I found a mosquito control item on my city utilities bill this week. So even if the mosquitoes are gone for the winter, they are not forgotten. And the dachshund named Dot.Com that lives with me has burrowed some paths in the backyard. After the last snowfall she got bogged down and I had to go out and rescue her.
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Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.
