Journal

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

by M.C. Greene November 30, 2018

written by M.C. Greene

I’ve put off writing about Christmas for about as long as I can stand. We love Thanksgiving and gathering with our loved ones. But once the turkey goes into the fridge, and I’ve eaten my share of pumpkin pie, I’m ready to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

Tomorrow is the first day of December, and it’s time for our annual Christmas tree decorating bash. It’s the evening when we fill our home with the people we love and ply them shamelessly with food and spirits while they help us decorate our tree. It’s a win-win for everyone and one of our favorite celebrations. There will be Christmas carols in the background, more food than we can eat, and more than a few cut-throat rounds of Twister. The Greatest Kid On The Planet and I are already placing bets on which ornament his Uncle Peter will break.

No matter the occasion, one thing you can always count on in our home is that there will be music playing. The Greatest Kid and I spend inordinate amounts of time dancing around our kitchen, and the holiday season is no exception. We start playing Christmas carols right after Thanksgiving, long before the leftovers are gone.

I grew up in a home filled with music. I was raised listening to the greatest of the greats: Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the incomparable Andy Williams. The Christmas music my mother played each year on the stereo in our living room is forever imprinted in my mind. And today, it isn’t Christmas unless I hear Mitch Miller And The Gang singing Santa Clause Is Coming To Town or Elvis Presley lamenting a Blue Christmas.

November 30, 2018

What We Wish For

by M.C. Greene November 27, 2018

written by M.C. Greene

Beautiful candles and pumpkins and pine cones and All That We Wish For

We love the holiday season. It’s the time of year when we get to fill each moment with the things we love while reflecting on all we’re thankful for. The last couple of weeks have passed by in a blur of activity, of family, friends, Thanksgiving, and, of course, football. It’s hard to imagine all that has come and gone in the short span of a couple of weeks.

The Greatest Kid On The Planet played his last football game of the season. And it was an epic one at that, a game we will never forget. The season came to an end with a well deserved and fought for run for the championship. It was an amazing adventure with an amazing group of people that ended with a second-place medal for The Greatest Kid and his teammates. The disappointment of not coming home with the big win was overshadowed by the excitement of the entire event, the immeasurable pride we feel for a team that overcame numerous challenges during a difficult season, and, most of all, the immense love we feel for the people we shared all of those moments with.

It was a season of great accomplishment for a tremendous group of boys, numerous personal victories for The Greatest Kid, and one we will always remember. But as we look back on all we experienced during the last few months, it’s the friendships, both new and enduring, which we know will continue throughout the ever-changing seasons that we are thankful for the most.

I’ve often heard it said that an attitude of gratitude is the best gift you can give yourself, and I believe this is true. I believe the Universe brings us what we wish for, and that when we give thanks for all we have and for the people around us, we are, in fact, asking the Universe to bestow upon us more of the same.

November 27, 2018

Being Well Journal

The More Things Change

by M.C. Greene October 25, 2018

written by M.C. Greene

Beautiful Autumn leaves that change into red and yellow

Last night, a full moon followed The Greatest Kid On The Planet and me home from football practice. It was pretty amazing. We stopped on the road just short of our home to stare at it for a while. It was brilliant and just a little hazy, shrouded slightly by the clouds. And then, later on, in the middle of the night, The Greatest Kid came into my room and prodded me awake. He’d awoken to the moon shining through the windows in a sky as clear as it could be. “You have to see this,” he said, and we stood by the window at 2:00 a.m. and stared at it some more.

Those are the moments I love.

This week, I’ve been sitting on my back porch enjoying the chill in the air. A few short weeks ago, the temperature was in the nineties, and now we’re down to the sixties. But these are the days we live for because it’s perfect football weather. Around town, the trees are exchanging their summer glory for striking fall colors, but the view from my back porch hasn’t changed; everything is still as it was in the middle of June. But I know it’s only a matter of time before the golds and reds start to replace the green. And then, in the blink of an eye, they will take over the landscape in a kaleidoscope of autumn hues. They say, down here in the South, the weather can change overnight, and this year it feels like it did.

It’s funny how quickly it all changes. And yet, at just about this same time last year, I was sitting out here on my back porch doing the same thing I am today, content with where I am, but anticipating new things to come.

October 25, 2018

Favorite Things Journal

A Field Of Dreams And Second Chances

by M.C. Greene October 4, 2018

written by M.C. Greene

We love road trips, and The Greatest Kid On The Planet is the best road trip buddy there is. I drive, and he keeps me laughing and singing along with the best tunes. When he isn’t sleeping.

Whenever we get a chance, we hit the road and head south to Florida. Last week, we went down for Fall break, and it was perfect timing. The moon was full, the sun was hot, and the water was perfect. We spent time with our favorite people doing all of our favorite things. Sometimes when we’re there, it’s hard to leave, but we do love coming home as much as we love going away. There’s something about walking in the door when we get back that feels like a sigh of relief.

Last weekend, we spent Saturday on the road journeying back to Georgia and arrived home ready to watch some college football. With some time to spare before kickoff, we found ourselves flipping through the channels, and we landed on a familiar favorite.

I’ve seen the movie Field of Dreams numerous times over the years. I’m drawn to the story-line, and I have a hard time changing the channel when it’s on. If, like me, you’re not a big fan of baseball, and if you’ve never watched the movie for that reason, you might consider giving it a try, even if only for its superb cast. It stars a young Kevin Costner with a great head of hair, the ever impressive James Earl Jones, and Burt Lancaster in his final movie role.

October 4, 2018

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