I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

I have a question. Is it traditional in the USA to put up a Christmas tree for Thanksgiving? Does that mean that the trees are all artificial or is there like here, a divide between those of us who don't think it is Christmas unless we have a balsam fir (insert favourite evergreen here) with all that it entails, including procuring, and figuring out how best to display its best side and those who have a standby artificial tree with designer decorations? That doesn't sound right. There is not supposed to be a value judgement in there. It is just different. My family isn't Christian but we still really enjoy most of the festive season, perhaps because it is a celebration at the darkest time of the year and we need the lights and each other.

I have a brother who lives in Melbourne, Australia. He celebrates the fun of the season, but it is really a northern tradition that seems awkward in the context of that beautiful sunburned land. I travelled there a few years ago on Boxing Day. The Christmas tree in the airport and the decorations on the streetscapes seemed like they were imposed by someone from away who couldn't figure how to celebrate community without resorting to holidays from the north.

I vote for Divali, when it comes to a festival of lights: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

On NBC nightly news, brian williams showed a clip of a house in Aussie Land - supposedly the MOS Xmas lights according to Guinness Book of Records - asked the Space Station to take a pic - if they could see it. They "tweeted" back they'd try.

We'll see tonight whether they did.

I think my favourite tree was the year, when my kids were very young, we were going out to Calgary where most of my family lived for Christmas. If we put up a evergreen for them it would be a fire hazard. After all we couldn't take it down until after Christmas. So we put up a Christmas branch. It was a downed portion of a maple tree. The lights looked so beautiful and my daughters loved it. The next year they asked if we could have a Christmas branch again.

Now we put up a balsam fir, really close to Christmas, even as late as Christmas Eve so we can leave it up until January 6. Hey even if you don't believe, you can drag the party out as long as possible. We have usually gone and cut them at a tree farm. But this year we bought 9.5 hectares of woodland just west of Peterborough with no real reason, except it was really, really pretty, and quiet. And there are some balsam firs growing there! I am looking forward to looking for the right tree on our own land.

I want to share something with you all knowing some might think w-e-i-r-d, but as the process goes along I'm feeling better and better about my decision. I'm having Ms Boo autopsied. They never could tell me what was wrong with her..."probably cancer." I was told about the possibility of an autopsy to ultimately determine her illness, while she was still alive, but I out of hand dismissed it. The next morning, after taking her on that final trip to the Vet last Thursday, at home, I pondered what the local Vet had said to me after her euthanasia - probably some type of peritoneal cancer. I quickly got on the web and wondered if it could be mesotheliomia of the peritoneum - yes it could. I had asbestos removal at my house 3 years ago and the darn Contractors did nothing in mitigation measures. Above and beyond that, I always wondered if it could be her heart (with her previously dx'd heart murmur, 2 years before). This is me - I will always wonder.

What just mystifies me about all of this is the bad information (or little help) I have gotten from the Big Vet and the little local Vet - "No, you cannot do an autopsy on a frozen body." Not true! Neither Vet could help me the day after on who, what, where other than "it's too late" or "if she had mesothelioma, it would have turned up on the Cytology." Well nothing turned up on the Cytology and the Vet still said cancer. Bad information all around. I called UC Davis and quickly got a name of a Pathologist. They have been wonderful, and atleast telling me that it will be very clear to them, including checking out her little heart.

Ms Boo is in my freezer now, before I meet the guy 60 miles away (he is travelling through the town south) and pass her on to him. Oddly, it is so comforting to have her with me until Friday.

I was the kid who always asked my mother, "What is there when space ends?" Answer "Only God knows." Me to mother - "That's a non-answer." I feel like I will be getting an answer about my Ms Boo. Yes, at a price, but still well worth it.

I can't stand it when doctors give out limited and wrong information! Does this happen in the human world too? Gotta wonder.

Kam - it will give you more peace of mind. Think you are very wise to do this. Hope you will sooner than you expect, be warmed by the memories of Ms Boo. Also want to acknowledge you for KNOWING your self, and what you need to do for yourself. Hard to live with the unknown, and I think this will make things smoother for you, fewer questions. Still so painful....sorry you & Ms Boo have had to go thru this.

Happy Turkey day to all...

For DH, one DD and I it is a grain based fake turkey. But we still give thanks just like the carnivores!

Kay - tee, hee....

Happy Thanksgivukah to all. Special Day. Gratitude Day. Giving thanks, and good wishes and GOOD HEALTH to all.

Kam -- I congratulate you on wanting to get to the bottom of Ms Boo's reason for dying. Mesothelioma is an interesting theory with the asbestos factor. And besides, any findings will contribute to the knowledge base for vets re cats with similar symptoms.

Update re Enjoyful: she's hanging in! Her best buddy Sampson bucked her because of severe back spasms, which are being attended to by a vet and chiropractor. Meanwhile, E is recuperating and getting ready for her trip to S. Africa.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

just posted on my FB timeline: I am thankful to be sitting in a hospital room at Washington hospital center with a husband who came through a quadruple bypass yesterday with flying colors. He's alert, talking and happy to have it over with. He gets soup instead of turkey but we're good with that, all things considered! Thanks for all the prayers and good wishes on his behalf!

Kam, I would want to know as well! I agree with your decision!!

Something to giggle about this fine Thanksgiving Day!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/robinedds/its-thanksgiving-so-we-asked-some-brits-to-label-the-us-stat

To those in the US hope you are having a good day.

I am about to head off to Sydney to meet the Aussie girls.

Tim and I just before we sat down to dinner. Had a wonderful day with family.

I am so grateful to have you all in my life.

hugs,

Bren

Just checking in to say I hope everyone had a wonderful, wonderful day today.  I have been working long hours the past three days -- 8 a.m. to 9 to 10 p.m.  Not hard work.  Will go tomorrow until late and them maybe for a while on Saturday. 

Had my first piece if Cranberry Pie today.....oh yum !!!  Funny, I've loved cranberries all my life but never, ever tired the pie.  Didn't know what I was missing.  Well, I'm to the point of barely seeing the page so I'm off to turn in.

Jackie

Good Afternoon Peeps!

Has everyone OD'd on turkey? Very quiet in our strange home today.

My mom and I went shopping this morning. My first shopping trip ever on Black Friday. We had a blast. Went to Belk and I got 60% off the gifts for my son, DIL, and two grandsons. I usually send gift cards, but it was cheaper this year to actually buy gifts. For those of you not living in the south, Belk is a department store like Macys or May Company or even Penney's.

Then we went to walmart. Both of us had our picture Christmas cards done and they were ready to be picked up. They turned out really cute. Because I live in such a small town, the stores weren't too crowded. We did get a Marshalls a couple of months ago ... that's about it at our local mall.

Beautiful day today ... a balmy 46 degrees and thankfully no wind!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with those they love.

hugs,

Bren

PS .. Thanks for the sweet compliments on the picture. That's the one that I used for my Christmas cards this year.