At the risk of repeating myself, may I say again: I love where I live

Kathleen Anderson

At the risk of repeating myself, may I say again: I love where I live.  

I love that landlords and realtors promote their properties by declaring that a clear view of Mt. Rainier or the Puget Sound, or both, is available from their windows. 

I love the fact that my neighbors on the Nextdoor app alert one another when whales and dolphins are passing by within view. Or when someone else’s pet is being kept safe for their owner, after wandering off to explore new territories, and forgets their way home. 

I love the fact that families of deer routinely meander through my yard on their way to my fruit trees or dandelions. 

I love the fact that I am surrounded by trees of all shapes and sizes, those standing stately and tall and those bent and low, reaching for a ray of the sun they never quite reach. 

And I love the fact that I have connected with a group of Olympians that work to ensure a better quality of life for those who cannot see the beauty all around us due to loss of eyesight: the Lions Low Vision Resource Center (LVRC). 

I love that in addition to the services available at the center’s clinic, which loans visuals aid devices to those with low vision regardless of age or income, we at the LVRC maintain a sensory garden at the port for their aromatic pleasure. 

Recently I had even more reason to be a proud member of this group. The Hope Vision Foundation announced that it will be dissolving and that its board unanimously voted to gift all the foundation’s visual aids, programs, and office supplies to the LVRC. 

This is Bella Rose, formerly The Smartest Dog in the World.

The passing of the torch… 

I also love this time of year, before the snow makes my personal world white and pristine. I love watching Bella Rose, the smartest dog in my world, romp in the rain, playing fetch with her ball all by herself.  

She will turn into a snow bunny when the white stuff arrives, as will my great-grands, in their brightly colored snowsuits and red noses. 

Outdoor fun is followed by the great-grands and I having hot chocolate with miniature marshmallows or hot apple cider, which they will sip through cinnamon sticks, when they come inside to thaw out.  

Bella Rose will also come in to have a treat, which means Sadie, our chihuahua, and Bailey, our lab, who are too smart to go outside when they don’t have to, will show up for one also. 

An assortment of holiday cookies and treats

I can bake without fear of melting anyone else in the house who is suffering from hot flashes. The house will smell delicious, and the only ones more excited by this activity than I am will be the dogs at my feet, patiently waiting to see if anything of edible interest drops to the floor. 

I enjoy watching as some things in my garden die off and other new things appear. I still cannot put a name to all of them, but I love the fact that I can post a picture on social media and someone will identify them for me. 

I love the holiday activities within our communities that bring families together to build new memories. And I love the generosity of the people who share this little piece of heaven with me: I love that hot meals, warm coats, and shelters that protect those without a roof to call their own are provided by those who do. 

I love the decorations, lights, signs, colors and cards that accompany this season, and the opportunity to catch up with friends at gatherings. And the special meals, snacks, and desserts that we allow ourselves, just because it is this time of year. 

And I often think of those who are spending this holiday season alone, or without loved ones they’ve lost, and hope they can find some joy along the way. 

Happy Holidays to you all. Enjoy every minute of it. We will have other holidays to celebrate in the coming year, but we will have to wait twelve more months for this special season to again appear. 

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia.  Contact her at  kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.