Darlene's Blog 2011: December 2017-Birthdays and Holidays

December 2017—Sunrise and Sunset (Reprise)

Although I’ve used the theme of the song “Sunrise, Sunset” from The Fiddler on the Roof previously in my blog (see February 2016) the words, the sentiment and the source remain meaningful to me. Recently I’ve participated in a book club at the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center where we studied “Night” by Elie Wiesel last year and “Why? Explaining the Holocaust” by Peter Hayes this year. Decisions made by your Great-Grandparents played a big part in your existence. And the decision by your Grandparents to come to Alabama from Israel when your Dad was 4 years old eventually led your father to your mother. As I see people currently trying to immigrate to America I’m grateful President Regan made it possible for your Father to become a US citizen. I will avoid politics for now and focus on the sunrises and sunsets I was able to enjoy with both of you in December 2017. The month began with the celebration of your parents’ birthdays. I stayed with you while they went to a hotel to celebrate. We went outside to see the Big Moon (or “super” moon), the first of 3 in succession. A super Moon happens when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to the Earth in its orbit. After the December 2-3 event there was a Super Blue Blood Moon eclipse January 31, 2018 (another one is coming January 31, 2019!) A Blue Moon also occurred January 1, 2018. A blue moon isn’t actually blue, it’s just the somewhat rare the occurrence of 2 full moons in the same month. Because your parents are very thoughtful they hired Brittany (she is sort of the nanny for two children at HMS) to help me keep you two. She took Lyla to play at Madi’s and I brought Willow home to nap after a breakfast trip to Jimbo’s. After I went home that evening I returned because I had kept Willow’s pacifier (which currently was the only one she had!). You were outside looking at the big moon with a telescope with your Dad. I had a routine day on January 7^th--taking girls to school, to park after school, Lyla to piano lesson & spent the night with Lyla sleeping with me. But the 8^thwas not routine! There was lots of snow! Angela was stuck at work & Brock was stuck at home since school was cancelled. I stayed at your house until late afternoon Saturday the 9^th when Angela finally got home. Willow didn’t like the cold! The snow was sort of messy. I played a lot of inside games with Lyla! 12^th-Special election for senate seat vacated when Jeff Sessions became Attorney General. Amazingly Doug Jones (Dem) defeated Republican Roy Moore. I met the Rotters at Lyla’s ballet open house and spent the night and the next day at their house. It was very cold at the park. On the 15^th I went to the “Peace Ceremony” at HMS then Lyla went to Girl Scouts. I got to hold Willow in the gym until she perked up and played (after some snacks). Lyla and I picked up Angela at work and went to the “Mutt Cracker”. Her friend Madi was in the ballet. It was sweet. I went home after it was over. 16^th-kept the girls overnight while Angela and Brock went to a Holiday Party.18^th-Early am to Angela’s and took girls to school. Nice weather at the park. 20^th-Stay with Willow while Ang took Lyla to a surgeon appointment re: scheduling repair of an inguinal hernia. 22^nd-Kristina changed plans for the day and Angela got a speeding ticket en route to our house for a family Christmas. We ate at La Paz then met Shari, Jackson and Abigail at the zoo (they were en route to Mobile). I spent the night at Angela’s and kept Willow while Angela worked and Brock took Lyla to Florida. Willow was sweet but hard to get to sleep. 24^th-I left for Mobile from Angela’s house. I took Mother to meet Garvers at Springhill Baptist Church and then ate at Garvers and returned on Christmas Day to open gifts and eat again. The next day I mother went to eat at Atlanta Bread which would be her last outing until Easter! 28^th!Mother fell in her bathroom went to Providence Hospital via ambulance. I stayed at the hospital with her until her discharge in January. 29^th-Mother had surgical repair of her hip fracture. 30^th-31^st-at hospital. 2017 came to an end at Providence Hospital in Mobile. 2016 I spent Christmas Eve at a hospital and 2017 New Years Eve in another one!