No more New Year Resolutions for me! I’m done. In the four years I have been alive I have been diligent about making a list of things to change on January 1st, but by the 10th day of January, I have already returned to my slovenly, gluttonous ways.

What makes it even worse is that I have been stupid enough to publish my resolutions on social media for the whole world to see. There is something sorted and dirty about having to sneak around. I fear that someone with a smartphone will catch and photograph me looking in trash cans for a yummy Kleenex to eat and then publish it on YouTube. Only cats engage in that kind of behavior

And by the way, I am still scared of that 8 foot Brutus the Buckeye mascot on my street. I know I promised to stop growling at it, but I would really like to sneak out of the house one night and bite it in the gluteus maximus until it’s deflated. Nothing that weird-looking should be allowed to roam the earth and terrorize perfectly respectable dogs like myself. One more 2016 resolution out the window.

Then there is my butt-sniffing problem. I was doing quite well with that resolution until one morning I was sauntering up to the front of the building where I work and spotted a stranger checking in to the front desk. I told myself this was an exception and I needed to smell the man to make sure he was safe. How was I suppose to know he was a judge visiting the building? Doc was mortified, but luckily he didn’t seem to mind.

Doc  thinks resolutions are a good idea. She thinks it gives people a fresh start and makes them commit to something, even if just for a little while. I disagree, so the rest of you can make all the stupid resolutions you want. From my point of view, if you were really ready to change you wouldn’t wait for January 1st, you would just do it.

Uh oh, Doc just told me she stopped smoking on Jan 1 and has not had a cigarette in 25 years. Well, maybe you can stick to it if you are serious. I hate it when she is right, but count me out. This dog is finished. The only thing I will be doing on January 1, is going over my past lists of resolutions to see which one I can break next.

So here’s wishing you a Happy New Year from one defiant resolution free dog.

It’s the night before Christmas,

I’ve waited all year,

for my jolly old friend,

to reappear.

 

The stockings are hung,

the Christmas tree glows

and the moon light twinkles,

off the new fallen snow.

 

Despite all my protests,

Doc sends me to bed

because good little dogs

need to rest their weary heads.

 

I try to stay awake,

but the Sandman arrives,

and sprinkles his magic dust

until I close my eyes.

 

I am peaceful and warm,

asleep in my bed,

when I’m suddenly awakened,

by a pat on my head.

 

I open my eyes

and who do I see,

my dear friend Santa Clause,

looking at me.

 

I cuddle up next to him,

with my head in his lap

and we just sit in silence,

while he takes a little nap.

 

But soon he awakens

and looks in my eyes

and asks, what’s wrong Grover,

you looked troubled inside?

 

I am troubled Santa,

but it’s not about me,

it’s about all the loneliness

and suffering I see.

 

If you could grant me,

just one Christmas wish,

please help all the humans

who feel sad and adrift

 

Santa ponders my request

for quite a long while

and then looks at me softly

and says with a smile,

 

Grover, you have the power

to grant your own wish,

It’s really quite easy

for you to accomplish.

 

Just continue to do

what you do every day,

by loving each person

that crosses your way.

 

Don’t ever doubt

the power that one,

person or dog

can have on someone.

 

Love is a powerful healer

my dear,

that spreads through our hearts

and destroys all the fear.

 

And just as I was pondering

all that Santa had said,

he bent down and kissed

the top of my furry head.

 

I love you dear Grover

and I’ll see you next year,

but now it’s time to fly

with all my reindeer.

 

Then Santa turned,

placed his finger aside his nose

and without any effort

up the chimney he rose.

 

As he got in his sleigh,

and drove out of sight,

I knew this had been

a very magical Christmas Eve night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not everyone looks forward to the holiday season. For some, Christmas is just a reminder of people or places that are no longer a part of their lives. It brings up sadness, not joy and they feel left out of the celebratory feelings that others are experiencing. When Doc and I did group today with our patients at work, those feelings of loss emerged one by one as we listened to their stories.

Some of the patients have lost loved ones and others have had to cut out participating in family gatherings because it is no longer healthy for their recovery. That can bring up fears about being alone. Whether it is death or separation, it is all loss. The reality is, we can all relate to grief and loss. The trick is how to walk through the sadness while taking care of ourselves and understanding how those losses have impacted us. At the same time, it’s also important to establish new traditions that do bring the joy back into our lives in a new way.

As part of group today, we began talking about ways we can remember people or places that are no longer a part of out lives. Doc shared with the patient’s that every time a significant person or place was no longer in her life, she has made a Christmas ornament to hang on the tree every year to remind her of that loved-one or cherished memory. I know it comforts her because I watch how carefully she unwraps and hangs the ornaments on the best limbs of the Christmas tree where she can see them all the time.

The patients loved the idea and began thinking of ornaments they could make either by themselves or with their children to hang on their own trees. Then everyone came up with other ideas about how they could start new traditions to reflect their lives in recovery.

As we continued our discussion it became apparent that we all had much in common with each other and that by sharing our stories the isolation that comes from keeping everything inside began to dissolve. It reminded me that being there for each other, showing support and lending an ear is really the true meaning of Christmas.

 

As the unseasonably warm temperatures of fall in the midwest come to a close, I have been thinking about how I will spend my winter. It occurred to me that it was time to plan some “me time” away from Doc. Now that she is back on her feet again, I won’t feel the need to keep my eye on her every minute of the day. It just so happens that I came across a web site the other day called AtlasObscura.com that listed some very unusual travel destinations, so I thought I would share them with you to see what you think.

Since Christmas is around the corner, the first place that caught my eye, is an elf school in Iceland. While learning about the seven types of elves, they also offer study about other little creatures like fairies and gnomes. Who knows, some of the things I learn could lead me to a part-time gig with Santa over Christmas break.

After finishing elf school, I though I would come back to the US and make a stop in Midland,  Michigan to check out a school for the Santa’s that help out the real one when he gets too busy. Here I will learn about the history of Santa Clause, reindeer habits, and they even have flight lessons, all important things to know if you are Santa. I was thinking I might fill in for Rudolf if he needed to call in sick. CBS dubbed this school as the Harvard of Santa schools, so I know it is good.

After finishing my elf and Santa classes I will probably want to spend some time at the beach so I can relax before heading home. If I go down to Tampa, Florida, not only can I get in some beach time, but I can also attend the Gasparella Pirate Festival. This will be the 101st  year that they have celebrated the last of the buccaneers, pirate Jese Gaspirillo, who terrorized the southern part of Florida all the way down to Cuba. My favorite part of this adventure is that everyone is expected to dress and act like a pirate. I am already thinking of some costume ideas and am excited for some of the events that will include; walking the plank, how to overtake another ship, capture their jewels and draw a correct treasure map.

After the pirate festival it will be time to head home as it will almost be Christmas and I will probably be home sick anyway. I know I will come back with some good stories to tell and will learn a lot on my adventure. Until then, I hope this sparked your curiosity about some places off the beaten path that you would like to explore. They could be far away or right near your back door, you just never know.