My Week that Was - December 11

Christmas around the hearth.
12/6/2021

  Christmas arrived in our house this week.  

  Three dozen cards were stuffed, sealed, and delivered to the post office.  Bells were hung by the fireplace and a wreath took its place above the hearth.

  The first three mornings were interesting.  Monday started with steady 15 miles per hour breezes and strong gusts which made mid 20 temperatures feel like a freezer.  Tuesday was in single digits, but with nothing moving outside it felt warmer than the day before.  Wednesday was better, back into the upper teens, I got by with a t-shirt under a hoodie instead of a long-sleeve T.

  With just three weeks left in 2021, there is a rush of things to finish from calls to visits to working on the calendar for the new year.  It's too soon to forecast what 2022 will look like, but we sincerely hope it allows us to host donor thank you events for the first time in 2 + years.

Since we aren't hosting family for Christmas this year, we decked just a couple walls for the Yuletide.  

This week the foundation and marketing departments combined for a celebration at the Palette Bar and Grill in Madison's Hotel Indigo.  It's in the reclaimed Mautz Paint factory.  Old paint signs and an abundance of colors make it interesting and fun.  We had a good time together, sharing stories, and learning about each other's background in ways that don't happen at work.  It was memorable.

Friday was special.  It was Employee Appreciation Day.  That's the day employees receive an annual holiday gift which comes from the hearts and pockets of residents.  It's celebrated with a party.  There wasn't one last year of course. This year's wasn't a big production, but it was special to experience its revival.

There are a lot of traditions in the air.  Which makes sense.  Tomorrow is two weeks to Christmas.