13 December 2025

I made a wreath. It's a bit bigger than the one I made last year, I think. I needed to go and get a few more leaves for it. I added some dried roses, and I found a dried snapdragon stalk that I also added. I think it's quite nice, I thought it was going to look kind of bald for a little while.

I do love a bit of Christmas, it has to be said. I love a bit of whimsy, really, and Christmas is the time of year that looks most favourably on whimsy. You can decorate things, doesn't need to be fancy, just leaves or coloured paper will do. You can wear a silly shirt or earrings or a pair of antlers-- no need to explain, it's Christmas!
And it sounds cheesy, but people really do look out for each other and show care for others, and it's more noticable at Christmas.
This week someone gave me a box of chocolates, because they were a bit aware of what my situation is at the moment and they said they didn't know if Santa was going to bring me anything this year. I was so touched by their kindness. I wished I had something to give back, more than just my thanks.
I'm okay, really. There are plenty of people worse off than me, and I was a little embarrassed, there are certainly people more in need. But I do appreciate the kindness so much, and I will keep it in my heart, hopefully I can pass it on to others.

It makes me think of a time at my volunteer job. It was the last shift before Christmas, and a few people had brought in some little gifts to exchange. It was nothing prearranged, but we would have a morning tea with a bit more of a spread than usual, and give each other something small, if we wanted to.
I would bring flowers that I made of paper, origami tulips or crepe-paper roses, that sort of thing.
I remember one year a lady in her eighties said to me "Oh gawd, this is so embarrassing" in mild chagrin, and I could understand it very well. I felt the same my first year there, when I didn't know that everyone did that and didn't have anything to share.
Sometimes you just have to let people be kind, though.
I didn't care about getting anything in return, and I'm sure no one else there did either. I do care about the people I volunteered with, though, and I was sorry last Christmas, when I went back to say hello to everyone, to hear that she wasn't able to work there anymore.
One of the other ladies there remembered the paper roses I made, and said she still had them.