Reflections

So I inherited my grandparents' home when my grandfather died this past May. Hubby and I have pretty much been living here full-time since then. It's five minutes from my parents, is close to other friends and family, as well as Sir. I was pretty much raised in this house, and it's comforting to live here.

Because of my fibromyalgia, it's not easy for me to just pack up and shuffle back and forth between the houses, which are ninety minutes apart. We'd decided to spend the holidays here, because my mom, especially, was happy to have us close by. This was the first holiday season she's really looked forward to in a couple of years.

With that decision made, Hubby, who goes bonkers at Christmas with outdoor illumination (yes, we are THAT house, you know the one, every neighborhood has one) is in the process of moving all our Christmas decorations here to this house. No small feat, because it's a goodly chunk of our garage and a storage unit full.

During some discussions the other night, Hubby asked me if I wanted to just go ahead and live here permanently instead of our other house. (There's no mortgage on this one, so that's not an issue.)

Goddess, I love this man with all my heart. He is the World's Best Husband(TM). Bar none. I said yes, if he was okay with that, which he said he was. So now we need to decide what to do with our other house. Probably will rent it out eventually. We need to do a lot of upgrades and renovations to this house (like adding a second bathroom, for starters). But here we'll stay.

I've spent a lot of happy holidays at this house, and it's truly coming home in more than one way. It's nice to think of all the nights I sat up late, pounding away at an old Smith Corona 2200 electric typewriter, with dreams of becoming a writer.

Now, I sit her, pounding away on my Toshiba laptop, thinkng about how to make my deadlines. LOL

And I'm extremely honored that Siren has asked me to participate in their first Romance Convention in August next year. I'm REALLY looking forward to going and meeting my fellow Siren authors and my readers.

I can sit and whine about my health issues and pain, but the truth is, despite all of that, I really am happy. Melancholy, yes, because I miss my grandparents. And sometimes in a lot of pain. But I get to spend more time with my parents than I have been able to in a long time, and I get to do what I love. I've got a new Siren book ("Contractual Obligations") coming in early January, with more on the way.

Life is good. :) Take time this hectic holiday season to stop, smile, and think about the good things in your life. And hug your family.

(Tymber Dalton, who also writes as Lesli Richardson, Tessa Monroe, and Macy Largo, is an award-winning, bestselling author. Her website is www.tymberdalton.com and her Siren author page is  http://www.bookstrand.com/tymber-dalton.)