I hope everyone had a merry Christmas yesterday! If you didn't, just know that not having a merry Christmas is pretty normal. Especially for 2020. but even through-out all the other years, I've been guilty of putting too much pressure on myself and others to make the day perfect and have been disappointed in myself. As many of you know, I was bed ridden with depression for most of 2016-2018 and during those years I would get up just long enough to drowsily eat breakfast and open some gifts and then usually go back to bed. I always promised to skype with my family but I rarely came through on that promise. Things are much better now, but they are never perfect. That's been a hard realization for me to contend with.
On Christmas eve, Eddie had an embalming at work so he was gone for several hours. I used that time to work out, meditate, take a shower and do Christmas Eve glam. (here's the video I used for my make up look! and here's a video clip of me with said makeup). I've spend many a holiday alone when Eddie has to work. That's just the nature of the funeral industry. Especially now that covid has hit our area, and pretty much everywhere else, mortuary workers are busier than ever.
That now includes me as a mortuary worker since I'm doing removals as well. We had a call on Christmas Eve when we were on our way to the grocery store to get ingredients for our Christmas morning quiche. The snow was falling but not for too long so the roads weren't too slick yet. It was our first call in a different county and in this type of job you need to learn to enjoy the ride. I had my Christmas sweater on and full Christmas glam with glitter! We were only a couple blocks away from home so we turned around and ran inside to change into our black scrubs and thermals. You never know what you'll be walking into. I try not to look too festive considering the circumstances. I had sprayed my beat with cinema secrets but it was no match for the lake effect snow and a couple tears for the tragedy we tended to. I had to wipe most of it off with a tissue in the van on the way to the morgue. That's ok! I took a picture before we left because I knew it wouldn't last long! After our call, we still had time to go to the grocery store for our Christmas breakfast items.
On the way there, we were looking at the sights and it was like a painting. Countryside landscapes and snow covered fields with rural barns and fluffy snow flurries. Lots of critters too. We saw a flock of turkeys on a hillside, no doubt making their way to Christmas eve dinner with family. but we also had an extra special sighting, a majestic bald eagle in all of his glory. We saw his unmistakable silhouette in the distance and was able to see a close up as he took flight and saw his huge wing span and wide white tail feathers. He was so beautiful. Since Eddie is a veteran, I always think of him when I see bald eagles, our country's official bird and patriotic symbol. Though this job definitely has its' physically and emotionally tough times, but there's no where else I'd rather be than with my husband, helping people with our special skills and performing a necessary service for our community.
After dinner we bundled up for a walk in our neighborhood to see all of the light shows and luminaries. Every year on Christmas eve the streets are lined paper bag luminaries and families walking all over saying Merry Christmas and drinking hot cocoa. (see a special treat in this video! this was special drive-through spectacular!) To me, walking the streets and seeing all of the side walks and homes lined in lights and entire neighborhoods working together is just as soothing as a midnight candle-lit Christmas mass and that's a good thing because that sort of gathering is currently unavailable to do 2020 just being a terrible year.
After watching It's a Wonderful Life, our yearly Christmas Eve tradition, we crawled into bed and Eddie read to me from my favorite book version of "The Night Before Christmas". This a pop-up book from my childhood that I always put on display over a mantle as a decoration. He always reads to me in a such a wonderful way, doing all of the voices and making me giggle. I donned my favorite gingerbread man pajamas and slept well and thankfully had no calls during the night so we could get a full night's rest.
I wish we could be with family this weekend but it's just not safe enough yet. However, it looks like we will be getting our Covid vaccine on Monday! Our appointments are at 1:20pm and 1:10pm respectively. Once we get both of our boosters, we can freely mingle with others who feel it is safe enough to do so and won't have to worry as much about our house calls to covid positive deaths (there's quite a bit of those). My presents for my family will be safe and sound and waiting patiently for a safer time to gather. It's coming soon! Just hold a bit longer! I know we can do it! Talk with you all tomorrow! and thanks for supporting me in my first ever youtube vlog yesterday! So exciting to be making even more videos for you all and working on some right now! I even got some Christmas presents that will help in this endeavor. Stay tuned!
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