My youth seems so very long ago, yet looking in the mirror it stares back at me as if I never grew old at all.

I once asked my mom on her seventy fifth birthday if she felt her age?

Her reply "only on the outside"

Now as my reflection looks back with a wrinkled brow and shades of gray I smile that same silly smile I did as a child then drove into town for a root beer float.

The sweet smell of the small burning cone drifted skyward undisturbed by even the hint of a breeze.

I didn't know why at first I was burning it outside, probably hoping for a day like today when I could turn my head away from it and capture the smells of a spring day then turn again and get lost in memories of my youth

A nice mix of yesterday and today.

All of us hold fond memories of the holidays.

Maybe it was receiving that perfect gift as a child, or seeing the reactions of your own kids on Christmas morning.

Some may remember with a smile the sounds, smells and sights of the season like cookies baking, the fresh scent of pine and the beautiful music that you kept in your head long after the lights were put back in the attic.

If you spent the holidays trodding through snow, or sand, freezing or sweating, it really…

I enjoy my morning coffee with everyone in my life who really matters.

My mother is there baking cookies looking as beautiful as ever while dad reads the paper in his favorite chair,

My children,, and grandchildren are all here, each doing the things they love even my favorite dog 'Turbo" joins in the morning ritual.

My sisters are with us drinking wine of all things!

Close friends, cousins and even some strangers , there all here with me this morning smiling and…