Most of the time I enjoy the holiday season, mainly for all the reasons so far listed on this blog—the sexy Santas, the tasty food and lovely decorations, the uplifting movies, the delightful music. However, don’t forget that snuggled among the ornaments and tucked away in the stockings awaiting their placement at the hearth are memories that glitter like red and green butterflies emerging from a year-long cocoon. When released, they’ll swirl and flit among us as we engage in that crazy dance of the blending of traditions of this busy, crazy time of year. They’ll make us laugh. They’ll make us cry. But mostly, they’ll make us wonderfully aware that we are not, nor have we ever been, alone.
Oh, I know what you’re thinking. You all knew Cameo, like the Ghost of Christmas Past, had to bring her own special brand of melancholy charm to the holiday party. But who would bring the nostalgia if I didn’t? Don’t worry, I won’t slip into a bout of the holiday blues. No, I just wanted to remind everyone, with the help of some hunky friends, to take a few minutes to remember those who are far away, those who live in our hearts and our memories even if they can’t be with us right now, and those who have sacrificed to give us a better life.
Many of the men in my life have been in the military, and so I'm quite supportive of our troops--man, woman, canine. I'm also supportive of those who sacrifice on the home front, especially parents who are single or who are left to fill the role of both parents when their mate is deployed, and who struggle daily to provide the kind of life we'd all want for our children.
A few years ago, in honor of these two groups of people, I wrote a short story and posted a version of it on my Web site as a free read. It then morphed into You're All I Want for Christmas, published by Wild Rose Press under another of my pen names, Arleigh Bish. A sweet romance with some hot sex and hopefully a few laughs thrown in for good measure, it brings together single mom Heidi and Rick, her BBF's older brother and a recently divorced soldier just back from Iraq. Together they symbolize the eternal hope each person has of doing the right thing when the time comes, of letting go of the past, of learning to forgive, and most importantly, of remembering how to love.
This year, I have another free read in the works for the holiday season. I will post a link once it's up and available. Until then, and without further adieu, here are some pictures I hope will inspire some great Christmas memories…and/or fantasies. lol















