Coal?

The subject for today's musings is brought to you by The One-Minute Writer.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2013

Today's Writing Prompt: Coal

Who in your life deserves a lump of coal in their stocking this year?

(If you're not familiar with this tradition: Hundreds of years ago, Santa Claus was said to bring food, toys, money, or small gifts for good children to fill their stockings hung by the fireplace to dry overnight on Christmas. But children who had been naughty that year received only a lump of coal in their stocking!)

Someone else put it very well.  "I cannot think of a single person this year who deserves coal in their stocking!"

My family has been through a very trying year.  We have moved twice, lost a family member, one had surgery, and we have all had to adjust to a new life dealing with my health issues.

The first move was a good one.  New place to live, better school district, closer to where I worked, closer to my kids' dad, closer to Ted's kids.  It was a good move.  We were all pretty happy with it.

In July, we lost Ted's mom.  It wasn't as much of a shock as it could have been, as her health wasn't the best.  It still was not an easy thing, for anyone.

In August, one of my girls had her tonsils removed.  Shannon can be a bit anxious at the best of times.  The pre op blood work about did her in.  The after surgery part about did Ted and I in.  When her medicine was working, she was her happy, normal self.  When it wasn't, she was whiny and more than a bit clingy, which is NOT normal.  When her throat didn't hurt, her ears hurt.  She didn't want to swallow anything!  Not water, not medicine, and, most especially, not food.  It was almost a full 3 weeks of this.  We were all glad when that all stopped.  I'm even more grateful, as she hasn't been sick since.  Not even once.  (knock on wood)

In September, my migraines progressed to the point where work was impossible.  We decided that it was time for me to stop working and try to get them figured out.  Because of finances, we moved in with Ted's dad.  This has been hard on all involved.  We are 3 hours away from Travis (my kids' dad), Ted's girls, and more than a few friends.  We are also not close to much else.  There is a grocery store about 15 minutes away, but it's small and expensive.  The closest decently priced grocery store is 1 1/2 hours away.

As you can see, there have been more than a few changes to our lives this year.  Everyone has dealt with all of them fairly well, all things considered.  I can't see that anyone deserves coal this year.