Tuesday, December 8, 2020

A BLUE CHRISTMAS...

 








Seeing the title of this post
 coupled with my penchant for
 humming Christmas carols
 since October and 
I bet you think
 you have a pretty good idea 
of what this post is about
 - but - no - it's not -
Oh, well,
 maybe just a little bit.





I had just finished decorating 
the parlor, the entry and the sitting room 
and when I was
 ready to photograph it all, 
the sun went behind the clouds 
and the feeling and the mood
 turned to a darker place. 
 Everything took on a blue cast,
 probably due to the loss of light
 and the over abundance of
 blue paint and wallpaper and 
the fact that the Captain loves
 the different colored lights 
on the tree and
 since he got up
 before me this morning,
 it was his choice.  
The blue LED lights 
are really too vibrant 
for a magical Christmas tree,
 in my opinion. 
 Anyway that's my story
 and I'm sticking to it. 
 Hence 
"blue christmas" came to mind.
 OK, if you insist:

"I'll have a blue Christmas without you 
I'll be so sad thinking about you.
Decorations of red 
on a green Christmas tree
 won't mean a thing 
if you're not here with me".

Blue Christmas
Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson
1957





"Blue Christmas" is a sad song. 
 It makes us think of all the ones
 who we would love to have 
around us at Christmas. 
 The ones who are not part
 of our immediate household 
and the ones who only remain 
in our hearts and our memories. 
 It is especially poignant this year 
as there are so many 
who are experiencing
 the same situations...





...whether loss of loved ones,
 loss of jobs 
or the loss of our freedoms.
 
 Each one of us 
who have felt the losses 
are not equally affected.
 
 For those of us who have 
only lost our freedoms 
(or so we think) 
just has to make a small adjustment 
and we will be able to 
get through to the
 other side.




For those who have lost jobs and income, 
that would be a lot harder to bear. 
 If there was some help for the ones
 in these circumstances 
they would come out on the other side also,
 but that may not be possible 
for a while longer. 
 I certainly hope
 it is not so bad 
that they can't hold on 
until that time comes but 
the situations look pretty bleak 
when you see the long lines
 waiting for food.





For those that have lost loved ones, 
that is a different story altogether.
  You can never make
 adjustments for that, 
now or in the future. 
 Time dictates 
that the future will be easier
 but for those who have lost
 someone to this horrible disease,
 it must seem like 
that day will be
 a long time coming.




I know I harp about wearing masks
 but because I care,
and I understand 
that is our best hope right now,
 I do so. 
 I will keep doing it
 even after the vaccine becomes available.
  It will not be like waving
 a magic wand and
 all of a sudden
 we will be back to normal. 
 It will take some time 
before every person 
can be reached.






Right now 
it is estimated that 
one person dies from the virus
 every thirty seconds or so.
 How many of those lives 
were lost because someone
 chose not to wear a mask? 
 Could you be one of those someones? 
 Don't you ever think of that?
  I imagine it would be devastating 
to think that you might be 
responsible for the loss
 of someone's life.
 Probably even more devastating 
to think that your life 
might be endangered also
 if a friend of yours
 didn't wear a mask
 around you.




This is the Christmas season -
 a time when our hearts and minds
 should be full of good will
 towards our fellow man. 
 The season where so many 
profess to follow God's teachings and 
yet won't even take 
this small step 
to make life easier
 for all of us.



 
 I am not writing this 
for the people whom I know
 to be my kind and loving friends 
but I know that  
some others do read 
what I write and
 if they are ones who choose
 not to wear a mask 
this is for their benefit.
 
 I do want to make
 that perfectly clear.





I find it almost foolish 
to be showing pictures of 
Christmas decorations 
along with this message, 
but we all do need 
a little change 
from what we have been going through 
this year and
it can't come soon enough.
 
 I don't want to think this way constantly. 
 It seems like such a simple fix to me 
and I find it very hard to comprehend
 that some have a hard time 
understanding the significance 
of wearing a mask and 
still think someone is trying 
to dictate to them and 
take away any of their
 personal freedoms,
 especially after all
 the lives lost.

 





Stay Smart
Stay Well
and...






...that one thing 
might just be 
wearing a mask.


Who knew? 

 Picture this: 
They said a mask and gloves
 were enough to go 
to the grocery store.

They lied! 
 Everybody else 
had clothes on.







Enjoy the spirit of Christmas.


...Judy...







Sharing today with:

40 comments:

  1. I'm thinking it really looks great all tied in with your blues over the home. I think the balance of white decor you put with it...calms the blue down. I know they are taking getting used to---when hubby put the blue icicle lights on the front of the house, I was in shock at how blue they were. But, after years of having lame blue lights, the LED's do take some getting use to...Very pretty, and you surely have a lovely home! Hugs, Sandi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Sandi. I have tried so hard to get used to the LED lights, but I just can't! The colored ones are so bright and the white ones have a greenish tint when photographed. It might be just my camera as I have seen others who take beautiful photos of the white lights, but to me the older soft white lights are just the very best. Oh, well, they always say change is good so guess I will have to get used to it..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  2. Judy, Your home is beautiful. I love all the decorations. The tree is very pretty. I liked the joke too. :) I agree with you on this covid stuff. I want to be well, stay well and all my loved ones also. I want to the world to be patient and work together to get thru this tough time. I will wear a mask forever if that's what it takes. Our young people and children need to be able to live normally. I think they need older people to guide them at times. :) Blessings, xoxo, Susie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Susie. I agree with everything you said. It was so exciting this morning to see the trucks driving up with the doses of vaccine. It will be a long haul, and we will still need to take all the precautions, but even though it will be a long tunnel, there is light showing now..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  3. Just beautiful, Judy. Blue or not, colored lights or white, I don't think any of it matters when it's displayed as artfully as you have done so in your charming cottage. I am always so relaxed and at home peeking at your photos, trying to take it all in so I can recreate some of that warmth in my own home. Delightful. And when it comes to the rest of your post, you are preaching to the choir over here. We're in NY and it's getting scary again. You would think that people would've learned the first time around. Stay safe and enjoy your pretty Christmas view. xxoo Oh- and ps...years ago, my husband woke up early, bought tons of rainbow lights and covered our yard in them, when I had planned on a few tasteful white twinklers. Of course, those rainbow strands lasted for years, when they usually burn out every year. Go figure! Ha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Kim. I love Christmas and probably put way more effort than I should into everything, but I just love it. Sometimes I do feel like I am preaching to the choir, although I would like to think that most people are smarter than they appear! I will not stop as it is so important for logical voices to be heard. I was so exciting to see the vaccines being delivered on the news today. I will never get used to those LED lights and hate the way they appear in (my) photographs. Maybe it is my camera but I just can't adjust for them. They look prettier in real life but they can't compare with the old, softer lights and you are right, they probably will last forever..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  4. Lovely photographs.
    We put our decorations up a little earlier this year.
    I think a little bit of festive cheer helps so many of us.

    Stay safe and well.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Jan. I agree that we all need a little bit of festivness (I'm pretty sure that isn't a word?) Anyway bright and merry is what we all need..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  5. First I love your tree. What a beautiful tree or as Cousin Eddie said in Christmas Vacation "it's a beaut Clark"!!! With being a nurse I believe in the science and always have. In the beginning of this if everyone would have just wore a mask for the first 3 weeks this virus would have been eradicated. Of course that is getting a whole world to do something all together would be impossible but if the majority of us did this would not be a second wave worse than the first. It is sad that some people choose not to wear a mask I guess the drawback to having freedom. I will wear my mask and do all the precautions even after the vaccines are out. This is not going away anytime soon even with the vaccines. Let's hope and pray for a better 2021. Hugs. Kris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Kris. Amen to all of that. It was exciting to see the vaccines being delivered this morning. There are always going to be ones who just don't care, I guess. Freedom to me means a life well lived and if you get this crud then all your freedom goes out the door. It is amazing to me that some don't seem to understand that. The tunnel is a long one but now there truly is some light we can see..This new year has to be better!..Stay well, my friend..xxoJudy

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Martyna. Christmas is wonderful and I love it too..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  7. Dear Judy your joke at the end was great!! Your home is so lovely, warm and inviting all decked out for Christmas. The LED's take some getting used to and the blues are more vibrant, but I don't mind that as I like blue. I got my little tree done today, tomorrow I'll work on the Nativity. Have a lovely Christmas month with your dear hubby ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Lorraine. I really try, but I just can't get used to the LED lights. I'm glad you like the decorations as I have a lot of fun doing them and always hope that other's like them too..I bet your tree is beautiful..Stay well, my dear friend..xxoJudy

      Delete
    2. Thanks so much, Lorraine. I know I commented to you just minutes ago but then when I came back from visiting you, it wasn't here. I guess I must have forgotten to "publish" it. I just have a hard time getting used to the LED lights. I like the softer look. I know your tree is beautiful because I just saw it..Stay well, my friend..xxoJudy

      Delete
    3. Oh, my goodness. Where did that first one go?? Well, you must be special because now you have three messages!!..xxoJudy

      Delete
  8. Loving all of your Christmas decor Judy...even if you are blue. The pops of red on your sofa are amazing along with that Santa pillow. I do like the blue mixed in your tree but confess I am partial to mostly white and a bit of color on my trees. Hope you enjoy your decor as much as we enjoyed peeking in for a bit. Janice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Janice. Thank heavens I am not as blue as those lights! haha. I just got those red pillows and I do like them. I can picture a tree with mostly white and that just seems like it would be so pretty. I'm glad you enjoyed the decorations. I do enjoy putting them up but probably get more involved that I should..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  9. Your home is just stunning! I do love the blue lights as there is so much red and white to offset them. They add something really special to the tree I think! You have decorated your home just wonderfully. I think most places now that you go to, you HAVE to wear a mask or they won't let you in. I think that's the smart way to go for businesses, but of course, people who continue to have parties in their homes with all sorts of people and don't wear masks, those are the ones who will pay the price... although they can transmit the virus to others who may go and be around another whole slew of people and transmit it there too. It's all sad and very scary. I just stay home most of the time. It's so normal now to see everyone around our town with masks on! even walking down the street they wear them. Is good to know as our town has very low incidents of the virus, but there ARE a few. Hugs.. Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Marilyn. I appreciate all your kind words. I really can't get to liking those lights. They are just way too bright for me. I do see a lot of masks around but there are still ones who don't think they are important. I'm glad your town doesn't have many incidents of the virus. Our's, for being so small, is overwhelming. It is so great to see the vaccine coming into the hospitals, but I hope that the idiots that don't wear masks anyway don't think this is a free card for them to still be so lax. After we get the poor excuse out of the White House, things should be better in some ways..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  10. Your home is so lovely and cozy, Judy. I love the colorful lights and decor, it just suits your home and style. I've never understood all the fuss of masks. I worked as a surgical x-ray tech for years and they were second nature. I was wearing a mask in February, no problem. Use your head and listen to the science. The new administration gives such a bright light and hope for the future, I'm so thankful. Sunny days surely do help our moods. Take care Judy and enjoy the Christmas sseason!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Debra. I tried not to go overboard this year but you know how that goes! Wearing masks, seem to me, such a small thing to do to save your life or someone elses. I just can't imagine being that dumb that you couldn't figure that out. I'm with you on the new administration. The sooner we can get that loser out of the WH the better. By the looks of things it might be a long haul..Stay well my friend..xxoJudy

      Delete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your house is so beautiful and cozy. Yes, please mask up everybody the life you save could be your own. We have to take care of ourselves and the people we love cause the current president is not going to do it for us. He does not care about any of us. But soon enough January will be here and we'll have an adult in the White House who will take care of everyone whether you voted for him or not. I am counting the days until that man is out of there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I love the way you think and thank you for saying it too. We don't hear near enough about it. All I hear is how some don't think Biden can put two words together, wow, if that means those people are Trump fans, I would be embarrassed. The sooner that joke gets out the better off we all will be. What a shame that they voted that guy in, we wouldn't be in the bad shape that we are if they had used their heads. I wonder if they are aware of how close we came to losing our country?.Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  13. DOn't you dare feel foolish showing decor with this message. It fits. We want to see beautiful things and we won't be able to see them if we are sick -- or worse. I love the song Blue Christmas, which we played at my dad's December funeral. And your home is so incredibly beautiful with its holiday decor. It's festive yet warm and cozy and very beautiful. Yes, everyone mask up. We can do this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Jeanie. That is so nice of you to say. It just seems like the world is in such a bad place that it doesn't seem right to talk about decorating, but Christmas is a healing time and I hope that it all helps. Seeing the vaccine being delivered this morning was hopeful too. May 2020 be in our rear view mirrors sooner than later and give us the hope that we need. I hope you are feeling better, my friend..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  14. I love your message. Now I won't say the one thing that makes me happy is putting on the mask. Oh I wear it for safety sake but I get such a anxiety feeling when I do. It's terrible. I guess the word I'm looking for is anxiety because I panic. I know I'm weird. The vaccine is scaring a lot of people and a lot won't take it. Who knows. Now on to a better subject- I'm gonna side with the Captain. I love the blue. Love how you slide in the song Blue Christmas. Love your decor Hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Carla. I feel that it is a message that needs to be said, probably over and over and over! I'm with you about the mask and I think that is why I keep reminding everyone how important it is. I hate wearing one and know that it would be so easy to just not do it, but then I know what an idiot I would be and I can admit that. I just can't get used to those LED lights. They may be more eco-friendly but I just don't like them..Oh, well, I guess we can get used to anything! Right?..Stay well my friend..xxoJudy

      Delete
  15. GREAT message and you are right on target. We always wear our masks when we are out. It is others I am protecting and believe others should do the same to protect us. It's a crazy world we live in. I hope you and your hubby stay safe. Love to you- Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Diana. It is a message that I fell can't be repeated too often. Some people just don't get it. It was so exciting to see the vaccine coming in this morning. I will be crazy for awhile longer I'm afraid..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  16. ps....Ii actually like the blue...I think it is very pretty and a change from the norm. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More thanks, Diana. It's not that I don't like the blue, I just don't like those lights!..Stay well..xxoJ

      Delete
  17. Beautiful tree! Your home is decorated so pretty as always. Very festive. I have colored lights on the tree on the porch that the girls like. Elvis Presley and Blue Christmas song is sad. I do love all of his Christmas songs this time of year. Now off for more shopping. Hugs Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Betsy. I wasn't going to do so much this year, and I didn't!! If you can believe that. I have fun and that is what counts. I don't mind the colored lights, I just don't like the LED ones. We compromised, he can have the colored ones during the day and I get the white ones at night, but those white LED ones don't photograph pretty either. Too green. I love Elvis and his Christmas music..I didn't do any shopping this year, everybody is getting Amazon gift cards. That sure makes it easy..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  18. Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Kinga. I appreciate it..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  19. Judy, your house looks so festive and cheery. A beautiful look for Christmas. Love your transferware. The pops of blue looks lovely. Merry Christmas to you and hubby. Love your sense of humor. Mask wearing is so essential. We still have idiots who refuse to wear one. Happy weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Linda. The time is going by so quickly. It is almost here and then onto a new year. Hopefully, the new year might make some people smarter! We can only hope..Merry Christmas to your family..Stay well..xxoJudy

      Delete
  20. Judy,
    Your home looks so lovely and so festive all decked out for Christmas!! It was truly a vision of lovliness!!!Beautiful!!
    Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie




    ReplyDelete

Your comments are so special to me...Judy