Saturday - December 19

 I was off to an 8:15 haircut with Morgan.    Her salon is just across the street and down a bit from Eastland Suites.    I drove for 1st time since surgery - felt good!    Always enjoy visiting with Morgan and catching up - especially the news on her baby girl, Piper (5 months today).

Home and then Mark ordered and picked up blueberry pancakes (me) and waffle (him) from IHOP which is very close to us, too.    Really hit the spot.

The sun is shining and it's a nice day. - 45 degrees for December 19th!

This weekend and especially tonight should've been the Chamberlain Christmas gathering at the Holloway Center in Dixon with 100+ family (and that would still be missing lots) there.   But not this year.....sad!

Anne and the boys were at the mall and brought me a Sleigh Ride latte from Gloria Jeans - 👍   They also got a new ornament for their tree....

Sweet!

We had a fun afternoon........our long-time friends, Gary and Judy are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary today.     Their son set up a zoom session time frame (10 minutes) for Gary and Judy to spend with friends.   We had the 2:00 slot and so neat to visit and then Leon and Helen from Michigan came on (today is their 51st anniversary) and finally, Paul and Kathy from Texas.   Also saw Gerry and Linda from Bloomington who had the 1:50 slot. We ended up doing 30 minutes together!    Fun, fun, fun and what a great way to celebrate when you can't have the party you would have in normal times.

Congratulations Gary and Judy!!!

At 4:30 we watched Mass from St. Patrick's in Dixon.    This is when the Chamberlains would've all gathered and always a standing-room only event.    Just listening to the music and seeing Father Romke brought back so many memories.    This mass was offered for Mom and Dad, Carol and Sue (sisters) and Laurie (niece). 

  I so remember all the babies, toddlers, teens, adults dressed in our Christmas finery year after year.    Then to the basement for a bountiful feast....LONG table full of Chicken George, ham, Italian Beef and oodles and oodles of sides.....all topped off with Sue's pies and cookies galore!  😥  And then the big extravaganza of opening presents!    Total chaos, bedlam and fun!!! 

We all pitch in for the clean-up and then back to the hotel for more cards, games, cookies and wine!

What a party.....next year?

Tom (2nd youngest of Mark's siblings) gave each of his siblings a special gift (personal to them) since we couldn't be together - what a wonderful, thoughtful idea.    Some of the siblings zoomed tonight and watched as they opened their gift.    Mark got a bottle of Chivas (his favorite scotch) and several dark chocolate bars!

What a special little brother!

Big bro is happy!