Thoughts and tree trimming

When I last posted on the first of December, I had no idea that the next day would bring the worst terror attack since 9/11. 

Not only that, but in my home state.

I was born and grew up in California, less than an hour away from there.

I drove through there all the time, when I was young, going to Big Bear or Palm Springs, never thinking much about it, but I knew where it was.

It's not a big city, like LA, and it doesn't have that kind of notoriety, so unless you grew up in Southern California, you probably wouldn't know where it was.

But when I first heard about it, I thought... "Oh God, they hit by my hometown!"

I figured at one point they'd hit California. After all it's famous, like New York, but like everyone else that grew up or lives there, no one would have or could have imagined that they would have hit where they did.

Which I guess was the point.

A little town, compared to the bigger cities.

In a place that people were giving accolades to people that worked for the city.

Not a big site, like LAX or maybe somewhere in Hollywood.

A small town where people were just living their lives.

Much like the cafes in Paris or the concert hall, only much much much smaller.

I'm still stunned and for days, I was either watching the news or looked much like Bubba does here...

Or like this...

So I apologize for not visiting but a few of you and for not blogging, but I'm scared.

Just as scared as I was that day on 9/11, when I lived in Virginia, if not more, because they're not just hitting big important places anymore.

They're hitting normal places now.

The press can tell me that I need to go on, not to give into them and live my normal life, but now I'm warning my daughter not to stand near trashcans and if she hears fireworks that she needs to run.

Normal.

What is that anymore?

Well, normal is what we did a few days afterwards, because it's Christmas and terrorists aren't going to stop me from enjoying my favorite Holiday,

Damn them.

Anyway, they name the trees at our local nursery and Annie picked a tree called Willie Nelson.

He's a little crooked, like Willie, but we love him :)

Annie is always the one that puts the angel on top :)

Amazing that's she's tall enough to do it on her own now.

My big grown girl.

More to come.

I'm just getting through the rough stuff and trying to enjoy the holidays as much as I can, because that's all we can do.

Except say, God bless the people and families that were affected.

And God Bless us everyone.

xo

rue

Edited to add.. Just after I finished writing this, I looked out the window and big fluffy Christmas snowflakes were falling.

Yes indeed, life really does go on after all.

Thank you.

I needed that ;)