The Kassel Family Project Life 365

It was simply too beautiful out today to not go for a ride. So, I took a couple of hours off this afternoon and enjoyed the sunshine on the MKT Trail. It was a relaxing 15 miles enjoying the warm December afternoon.

Maybe, it is because of 2020. Maybe, it is because of my age. For whatever reason, I find myself staring at our Christmas tree every night for about 30 minutes before I go to bed.

I look at the ornaments. There are ornaments made by my grandmother, my mother, and my kids.

There are ornaments from places we have visited.

There are ornaments made on Shutterfly from visits to Santa.

There are ridiculously expensive ornaments from the Christkindl Market in Chicago that I yelled at myself for buying, but now I very much appreciate the craftsmanship.

There is the ornament that I bought from Bronner’s as a memorial to my mom.

There are Sigma Chi ornaments that we have been collecting since 1997.

There are several “our first Christmas” ornaments.

And, there is the duck face ornament that Andy hates, yet the kids and I hide every year on the tree because we giggle so much as we hang it.

While we still have a few of the collectible Hallmark ornaments on our Christmas tree this year, I mostly chose “those ornaments.” The ones that make you think back. The ones that are full of memories. The ones that mean something. I have told the kids for years that when they have their own homes, they can take “their” ornaments. Someday, many of these will be gone, so I will enjoy them now. Maybe, that is why I find myself staring each night.

This is how John “scouts” in 2020.

We opened the first of the six bottles of Sigma Chi wine tonight.

The Founders Red was simply amazing and very much worth the cost!

It is going to be hard not to break into the other two bottles of this kind. I am very much looking forward to trying the Sweetheart Chardonnay.

JT, Andy, and I rode the 2020 version of Cranktivus today.

It was not the “normal” food drive on two wheels that is spent buying out Columbia stores with 100+ people, but it was still amazing! We were fueled by JT’s “positive energy shakes” (aka beer), friendship, and bikes. We saw lots of other people out in full Cranktivus gear, gathering food for the Central Missouri Food Bank. This is just part of the food haul that was collected throughout this week.

Beth is the founder of Cranktivus and every year she wears a new suit. This is the best suit yet!

Whether you are an avid cyclist or a beginner, give this ride a try in 2021. I promise it will fill your heart! It is some of the best times around and, for about $25, you are helping to provide families across Mid-Missouri with a holiday meal that they might not otherwise have.

When all was said and done, over 200 meals were donated along with $2,020. COVID and the year 2020 cannot stop Cranktivus!

Chippy and Melty returned tonight, but they will not be moving anytime soon. John finally admitted that he knows the truth about Santa, so there is no need for us to remember to move them. I must admit that I am happy that both can just be Christmas decorations now, but I am also a little sad that this time has come to an end. Maybe one day, Chippy and Melty can be a source of everyday excitement for grandchildren.

This boy lays in the strangest positions.