Fingers crossed

Sun., December 22, 2002 - I baked banana bread & apricot bread.  Nancy came in a.m.  She did some laundry & vacuumed, etc. while I showered.  Mary went to Writers Club meeting at Zoya's.  Mitch & Anna stayed here.  We played UNO, Go Fish, and Crazy Eight.
Mon., December 23, 2002 - Went to Zoya's apartment in a.m.  Gave her a loaf of apricot bread & some peppernuts.  Had a nice visit.  In p.m. I went to Grace's apartment with a loaf of apricot bread & some peppernuts.  She was sorry to tell me that her children didn't want her to drive me places -- they are concerned about her health.  She seems to have more problems than are apparent.  Went to Card Club in evening & took the sleigh bells along.  After club I stopped at Dolores's place & we played Rummikub.  Home Nurse came at noon and I'm discharged from that service.
Tues., December 24, 2002 - Made some candies with almond bark, marshmallows, and peanuts.  Also made apple crisp to take to Nancy's this evening.  Tom & Merilyn stopped after their 5:00 church service & took me to Nancy's.  Had supper there.  Mary, Mitch & Anna came too.  We exchanged gifts.  I stayed all night at Nancy's.

I clearly remember Grandma's banana bread and apricot bread.  Also, many many treats that she made for Christmas.  I must say we do not have the volume of sweets these Christmases as we did when Grandma was around to make them, but that's probably okay.  We do fine with the sweets that are there.

It's a long shot to be sure, but there is a competition to have special items included in an exhibition at the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen.  People are to submit a short essay about a particular object and why it brings them happiness.  Some of the items will be selected for the exhibition and those contributors will receive tickets to see the whole collection.  One person will receive two airline tickets to Copenhagen.  And it's all by email to start, so I've risked not even an overseas postage stamp by entering.  I wrote about the little tag I took from Grandma's place at the Pioneer House.  The one that she put outside the door to let the person checking tags know that she was okay.  It makes me happy to look at the tag because I am reminded of how adventuresome Grandma was to leave Winside behind and move to Lincoln and start making new friends at her age.  The tag reminds me that things will be okay.

I do not have high hopes of my submission making the cut nor especially of winning airline tickets, but it doesn't hurt to try, right?