“Christmas – that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance – a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.”

~Augusta E. Rundel 

Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or other holidays this time of year, it all comes to thinking of everything we have loved. However you may, celebrate, I wish you and yours much love: a simple wish, yet the greatest.

Over the past week, I found myself feeling worse and worse: a dread cold bug knocking on my door. Despite the fact I fought the critter, it got the best of me … homemade chicken soup and hot tea became daily menu items. I’ve done my best to avoid spreading the little monster: canceling out on holiday celebrations, taking rain checks on heading out in public. It hurts to miss out on Christmas pudding, friends gathering and delicious party fare.

Today, I found myself needing to make a quick voyage into the land of the living: so bundling up I headed forth- managing adroitly to avoid close contact up until my last stop for Saluda honey: known for medicinal value, the top mission of the quick trip out. When I went to pay for the jar, the coughing suddenly started. No matter how I tried to swallow it back, push it down, it would not stop. Tears streaming, coughing painfully hard into my sleeve, my embarrassed coughing self held out money with total humiliation that I had (quite unwillingly) become one of those people. Those who go out in public with their cough and sneezing.

You see the culprits on the loose everywhere: sneezing and coughing all over the place without covering up, or sneezing directly into their palms: heading to buffets, ahead of you in line, not washing their hands, rubbing runny noses, eyes, mouth, then putting used tissues on counters. You know the very ones: you cringe upon seeing them do these things! So, I crept home, head down in shame: to make hot tea with honey; then informed River dog that he’d have to mush forth next time for any future honey, tote it home around his neck like a St. Bernard would in the Swiss Alps. For some reason, I just got a funny look.