Luckily I went to the gym last night after the "Blue Christmas" service I played.
It was a lovely service. I prayed for my son and family the whole time. And at the end, when the choir director played a video of the re-enacted birth of Jesus, with Josh Groba
After the video, I wiped my face and stood to hold hands with the small group as we prayed the Lord's prayer. By the time the pastor offered the benediction, I had myself under control. I played my last piece while people were trickling out.
The Blue Christmas service is intended for people that are grieving some type of loss over he holidays and need space away from all the "Ho-Ho-Hoing".
It was very healing for me, even though I was the church musician.
After service, I walked to the gym I belong to. That's been my new routine, especially since this is the month of many church services. It is a good routine. I usually spend time on the treadmill or stationary bike while catching up on the news, do a few weights and then an enormous amount of stretching.
Planet Fitness has a nice room designated for stretching with many mats and the coolest contraption that I had never seen elsewhere. It looked like a jungle gym out of "Mad Max Thunderdome".
I stretched myself every which way but loose.
Sorry for all the movie analogies. I just spoke to my son. He and his cell mate share the cost of renting movies on the inmate tablet. His cell mate sounds like a cool dude. I can hear in my son's voice that he is doing well. Coffee Creek is not the Hilton, but apparently the food is better than Inverness, and he is able to watch movies with his cellmate and read books when they are on lockdown, which is about 21 hours a day.
When they are allowed out, he can go out in the "yard" for fresh air, walk around, work out with the chin up bar, and grab another book.
I sent him two books from Amazon this week. He hasn't gotten them yet, but I know they have to go through the mailroom and be inspected.
He has been in Coffee Creek two weeks now.
This will be my first Blue Christmas without my son. But he is doing positive work for his future, and that of his family. Perhaps it is a Baby Blue Christmas. Not dark, like navy blue. We will survive.
I have not been big on the commercial aspect of Christmas ever. This year I am actually happy to be busy doing Christmas music at a church. And since I am more strapped for funds than usual, I am knitting presents for all my family members.
I also am still quite serious about my plant focused diet. This week I am making homemade Indian food, which consists of many lovely vegetarian dishes. I made homemade cilantro mint chutney this morning. It was gone in about 30 minutes. My daughter could not stop eating it. I also made fried "aloo bonda" which are mashed potatoes filled with onions, spinach and spices. I added bacon for the rest of the family. Then I coated them in gluten free panko crumbs and fried. They were heavenly with the cilantro mint chutney. My daughter ordered some grocery to be delivered. I made sure she put mint and cilantro on her list.
Tonight I plan on making rice paper samosas.
I am still practicing intermittent fasting. I haven't lost anymore weight on the plant based regimen, but my head feels clearer.
On that note, I need to head out.
Happy Friday!
Love,
Zita
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