10:07 AM I think from now on, I shall add the time whenever I start (and sometimes stop) a post. I get confused when I re-read what I've written. I lose track of the timing of the writing. Anyway, just a thought to try.

On the Lactose Incompetent blog there was a link to an article about a policeman who was suspended for 30 days without pay because he refused to run in a homeless man who had no where else to go. The homeless in the area did a fundraiser and raised $3,000 and gave it to the man and his family for Christmas. Wow! What a story. I just emailed it to a bunch of people on my mailing list. To me, that should be what Christmas is all about. People helping and thanking other people!

It is so rare for me to really acknowledge anyone, much less a stranger. When I am out and about, I hardly ever make eye contact with anyone. I have not said "Merry Christmas" to anyone this season. I have typed it a lot...but suspect that this does not count in connecting with others. I think the Advertiser has a front page column which allows people to write their acknowledgements (good and bad) for things other people have done. My cousin, Walter, got written up two or three weeks ago. Apparently, he stopped to help someone in trouble and he went out of his way to do this. The facts are muddy in memory, but his helpfulness remains clear.

Who have I failed to acknowledge this month?

PW's concern that I was not going to decorate the house with Christmas stuff (she was willing to bring some things from home)
Grant for bringing the ice chest and ice
Didi for getting the extra ice and functioning as a quasi-hostess for the party (stopped at 10:26 am)
(Back at 4:23 PM)
D for encouraging me to keep on blogging
D for not criticizing me for drowning her in emails (she continues to encourage me to keep sending them to her)
PG for her help with the decorations, Max and for making the property look pretty good
PW for keep showing up here at work despite the terrible working conditions
D for clapping when I sing (even when I know I sound bad/straining)
Dick for managing Max most of the day - he allows me to run around without feeling guilty about Max at home alone
Dick for not questioning any of the things I have done with our finances (this is for our entire marriage)
JMS for sending me what she perceived to be a warning and a reaching out

Who has not acknowledged me?
B does not appear to appreciate the work I have done with his checkbook reconciliation - he started the whole spreadsheet again from scratch
Dick never said anything about my staying with him while in he waited in ER for a hospital room
Dick did not ask me how I felt after I was released from the ER (spent nine hours there)
Jaclyn seems to view the Friday outings as something to do if she nothing better to do (cancels at a drop of the hat)
Irene, Grant, Brian, Jennifer, and Kathleen have never answered an email from me

I think I will go send some emails to the top list.

9:03 PM I sent 4 emails to people I have not acknowledged. There was so much to write. I feel a lot cleaner and will try to not let this happen again. I have not decided if anything needs to be done with the Who has not acknowledged me? section. I do what I do because I want to. However, I do plan to ask myself a few more questions before doing certain things. Sending email, that is okay. I like to share information and there is one person who always causes me to acknowledged and appreciated. However, I should have probably not gotten involved in the bank reconciliation process. This is not one of the areas that I can hold my attention to the degree necessary. I should have been a lot more honest about the problems.