December isn’t usually my favorite month. Don’t misunderstand—I love the Christmas season and the blending of faith, family, friends, food, and fun, but when everything is all piled together, there is little time left to sit back and absorb each element. Nevertheless, Helen, Mortimer, and I had a delightful month, and I want to share as much of it as possible within my usual target of 800 words (or less).
The Christmas season kicks off for us with the annual Christmas Concert performed by our church’s gifted and dedicated choir. The brilliant Andrew Skoog, Professor of Voice at the University of Tennessee, directs our choir. Andrew loves leading our choir and fills a few of the seats each year with several of his prize scholarship students, and they add a layer of rich voices unequaled by few church choirs anywhere in our city. Andrew also includes members of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in the Concert, and the music produced is seasonably supreme.
Another tradition our church honors is the annual trip to the Rose’s Creek Community in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, carrying gifts for families living there. Individual congregation members volunteer to support a family that otherwise might not have a Christmas without our help. For the past few years, I have led the convoy of ten or more vehicles over the mountain filled with wrapped gifts for Rose’s Creek. It is always a joy for me to take part.
The next event in our holiday lineup is the Meatloaf dinner Helen and I prepare for a group of former neighbors. We think this year’s gathering is the thirteenth time we have hosted the party; it is always a highlight for us. Helen goes all out to decorate the house and the dinner table while I have the honor of preparing my gourmet meatloaf recipe. Before we sit down for the meal, we have a White Elephant drawing for gifts, which is always a hilarious occasion.
We live in a neighborhood of about 80 homes. Our neighbors are delightful and creative people working hard to keep us all connected. Every year, we have a neighborhood Christmas party in our clubhouse. Neighbors bring potluck dishes and appetizers to accompany BYOB drinks. I don’t have a headcount, but I think this year’s attendance was the largest I can remember.
For the past two years, a generous person has also hosted a party for the fourteen residents on our street. Bill Williams, a top-rated former news anchor for one of the local television stations and a close friend of our hostess, played the piano for us this year. Bill played a selection of Christmas songs while everyone joined in the singing. All had a good time.
Helen and I are blessed to have extended family living in Knoxville, and it was our turn to host family get-togethers. One gathering included my mother, brother, Jim, and his family for an afternoon of family fun and food. Jim’s daughter-in-law, Jennifer, prepared turkey and ham sliders that were perfect for the occasion. Helen and I served White Bean, Chicken Chili, and Chicken Noodle Soup. It was so good to see my Mom celebrate with all of us. Mom turned 95 this year and is doing exceptionally well.
We also enjoyed the company of Helen’s extended family for our traditional meal of Seafood Gumbo. Helen’s sister, Cammy, her husband, kids, and grandkids joined in the event along with the family of Helen’s late brother. Cammy prepared the Gumbo, and there was no bite left at the end of the evening. Yum!
On a slightly sad note, our children and grandchildren couldn’t be with us this year. It’s understandable—I wouldn’t ask anyone to fly over Christmas, including our California kids. We saw our Charleston family recently, so all is fine. We opened gifts on FaceTime and will be with everyone again on our upcoming road trip.
It was Mortimer’s first Christmas with his new family (us), and he took it all in with his usual laid-back demeanor. I was surprised he did not attack the Christmas tree or any of the few gifts underneath, but he gave them little notice. He got a few toys to chew on and a new squeeze bottle of Easy Cheese in his stocking. He turned two in October, and we’ve decided to keep him.
I’m nearing my word quota, and I’ve shared most of the month by now. Our Christmas Season ended as it began—in church for the Candlelight Service, which is always inspirational and beautiful.
Helen and I wish every one of our readers a prosperous, safe, and healthy 2024. We ask you to remember the families of our fallen heroes, our elderly, and the needs of those less fortunate. We’ll be on the road by mid-January, and we hope you’ll be with us. We remain blessed, grateful…and Easin’ Along.
Joe and Helen,
What a well rounded Christmas season you have had! Congratulations and Happy New Year!
Love,
Eddie and Wilma
Thanks, Eddie,
It’s always a busy time of the year, but I love being around our family and friends…good food,too!
What a fun and faith and family-filled month! Your home looks beautiful for the Holidays, and would love to try your meatloaf sometime.
Happy New Year to you and Helen! Health, Happiness, and love,
Carolyn
Carolyn,
I would love to have you try my meatloaf. We’ll make it happen. Happy New Year to you and Johnny! Hope to see you soon! Joe
Joe, with your hospitality, friendship, and generosity this past month, you and Helen have taken ‘the blending of faith, family, friends, food, and fun’ to another level. The warmth of the season and love in your hearts leap off the page in this post. It is wonderful that both you and Helen have family nearby, even though your children are far away. And, how special to have your mom attend the festivities. You are truly blessed. Happy New Year!
Suzanne,
Thanks so much for your kind comments. Christmas is always busy, but we try to remind ourselves that it’s all about the five “F’s.” We are blessed…and grateful. All the best to you and Malcolm for a wonderful 2024. Joe
Sounds like a very active but special month. Wishing you and Helen a wonderful new year filled with fun travels.
Hi, Ingrid,
Always great to hear from you. We plan to be out your way in late summer–please order some cool weather. Best wishes to you and Al for a healthy and prosperous 2024. Joe
Happy New Year Joe & Helen –
Faith, family, friends, food, forgiveness, festivities and sharing with others really is what December is all about. Your post illustrates this all beautifully.
Wishing you a wonderful 2024!!
Happy New Year, Donna! I always start every December wondering if I’ll get through it . I always look back at the month and realize how much fun it was and how blessed we are to share the month with our friends, our family, and our church. We send our very best to you and Richard for a happy and healthy 2024. Joe.
Omigosh, Joe! Just reading this post was enough to make me want to head back to bed to combat my sudden exhaustion! God bless you and Helen – I have no idea how you manage to get through it all. A few random comments . . . Your church’s Christmas concert sounds magnificent! How lucky you all are to enjoy such a stellar event. I’m always touched by the sincere and magical smiles in your family photos. So sweet! And a “new” squeeze bottle of Easy Cheese? Hmm. Is it Mortimer or you who is addicted to it? Just wondering . . . Wishing you and Helen safe travels in 2024 and the happiest of New Years!
Happy New Year, Mary!
December is always busy, but I’ve learned to take it in one event at a time and enjoy them to the fullest. Mortimer loves Easy Cheese, but a dollop of Peanut Butter is his favorite snack. Loved your Card and newsletter. Your children are delightful. All our best! Joe
Happy New Year, Joe and Helen! This is such a beautiful, heartwarming post. Your celebrations are not only festive, but meaningful. I’m glad you’ve decided to keep Mortimer…as if there was ever any question about him staying, LOL! Just looking at him makes me smile. Hope to see you three this year!
Good morning, Laurel!
What a surprise! I thought that you and Eric had wandered off into the mountains and decided to hang there for a while, so it’s great to hear from you. We had a busy month, but fun at the same time. We love our church and the music of our choir is fantastic, and a wonderful way to kick off the Christmas season. Mortimer is settling in nicely, but we still have to squeeze a little bit more of the puppy out of him. We couldn’t get rid of him if we wanted to–our kids would divorce us. Have a happy, healthy, and joyous 2024 in your new home, and let’s try to meet up sometime. Joe
Dear Joe,
A much belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for another wonderful year of “Easin’ Along” with you and Helen!
Hope you and Helen have a safe and healthy New Year at home and “on the road”!
Ron
Clemmons, NC
Hello, Ron,
Wishing all the best to you and yours! Great to hear from you! Please stay in touch. Joe
Happy New Year Joe,
It sounded like a lovely holiday season, even if sans kids and grands. We too, have no kids or grandkids with us, but we have a solid and loving group of close friends here in our community who have become our family. We are flying to RI in February for grand baby Cora’s first birthday so will see them all then.
I spent most of today planning our May RV adventure, this time across Alabama, Arkansas, and ending in Branson, MO for a week of music and fishing Table Tock Lake. We will head to Ann Arbor to visit family before heading into Ontario to catch up with some close friends, then home to NH for a few months. Dan’s mobility is being challenged by some severe arthritis so I don’t know how much longer we can do this, but we will as long as we can. Can’t wait to hear about your upcoming travels.
All the best to you and Helen.
Nancy
Happy New Year, Nancy!
Always great to hear from you. Your plans for the next few months sounds like a lot of fun. We’re heading to Jacksonville and the Florida Panhandle late next week for about a month and looking forward to the time on the road. Like you and Dan, I don’t know how much more of this we can do, but our motto is, “as much as we can, while we still can!” All our best to you both. Please stay in touch! Joe
Joe, What a fun and lovely December you had. Happy New Year to you and Helen! Wishing you good health and wonderful adventures in 2024.
Good morning, Natalie,
We were blessed with some fun activity and time with friends and family. We send all our best to you for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. I look forward to keeping up with you and your adventures. Thanks so much for checking in. Joe