Celebrating the Winter Solstice...Pagan Style

had a lot of plans for the holidays. planned on takin this trip through Florida...seeing kids, grandkids, family and friends. it was a good plan.

certain things were going to get accomplished. reconnecting was to happen, and we would finish up in Gatlinburg TN, speaking to a group of kids about the "Warrior Lifestyle." it was a great plan.

last min stuff happened, reality set in, and what seemed like a great plan all went the way of the flush.

now, for the first time in 26 years, my bride and i will spend the holidays together, away from all family. no decorations up (well, we do got a candle and a mini stocking with a candy cane in it), no tree, no family...immediate any way. what we do realize is plans seldom seem to go as i want, never have actually. while we miss the kids and grandkids, we are enjoying our time together. and while family may be far away, we have friends we are learning to love and enjoy our time with.

the days are shorter, and the weather is colder. it snows here...3 times so far. the traffic is ridiculous, and regardless of where you live, people are idiots when they drive. some lady tried to flip me off yesterday, but i think her niceness would not let her. she gave me 2 fingers rather than 1. prolly means a lot worse as well.

so rather than get christmas sappy, rather than remind everyone the world is getting worse and worse, rather than blame our president elect for the coming apocalypse, rather than complain about what holiday greeting to use, rather than fall in line with the goose steppin right wingers, rather than throw stones at prop 8 haters, rather than put statues of the manger scene up, rather than turn a celebration of love into a scream fest...

from my family, to yours...

"screw it, let's ride!"