Brainstorming Christmas 2024

Halloween is officially over at our home. A lot of the parents were taking pictures of their children in front of our graveyard. It was a success. I even got to be a photographer for an entire family.

Tomorrow, on with the Christmas ideas. We are trying to think of how to decorate without upsetting or confusing my mom. The doctor recommended not changing the apartment interior because it will confuse her when we take the tree down. Something will be "missing," and since she has short-term memory loss, she will be suspicious and accusatory that we must have stolen something from her when she can't pinpoint what is "missing." This is what happened last Christmas. So, we are thinking outdoor decorating just like we did for Halloween. Thankfully, my neighbors were all cool with using up the entire shared space to create a graveyard. Maybe we can build a Winter Wonderland in the old graveyard. I'm thinking laying down blankets of faux snow. External Link: Our Halloween 2024

Mele Kalikimaka

My son Chris and I pulled up to my apartment parking lot so he can care for his grandma (she's ailing from end-stage Alzheimer's Disease and needs 24hr care) while we are all at work.  I've learned to not acknowledge or engage with crazy (mentally ill) and twacked out people, from bad experiences.  When I lived in Hawaii, I had drug addicts try and talk to me about drugs because I was out brisk walking.  In Oregon, I had a mentally-ill woman try and knock my food out of my hand as I was eating.  Also, in Oregon, a mentally-ill man tried to punch me while I walking to work.  I learned to not engage.

Today, this mentally ill lady, whom I don't believe lives in our apartment, was yelling at me and my son about nonsense while I was helping him get out of the car (his arms were full of fast food and drinks).  She was angrily shouting, but none of it made any sense to either of us, so we continued our conversation as we were getting our things from the car. Because we ignored her, she clearly yelled that we were "rude."  

Again, she was ignored.  

As we were walking away, she yelled, "Mele kalikimaka!" at us, which got my attention.  I looked back at her and was about to throw her a shaka, but changed my mind and told Chris, "She just wished us a Merry Christmas." He laughed and said, "What the heck?"  Halloween isn't even here, yet.

It must be the lime green "Oahu Grown" decal on Trevor's back window that caught her attention.

Mele kalikimaka, though.  🤣 Halloween is Trevor's holiday, so that's what we are celebrating all month long this October.