You’re Going Down 2020 Because It’s Time to Sparkle


It may be a bit much and perhaps somewhat blinding, but get out your shades my friends, because this year, I’ve decided to sparkle for the holidays.

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher

I’m not even going to sugar coat it: 2020 has sucked. We’ve been faced with so many trials and tribulations, to me it has felt like an episodic time much like the Great Depression. Not that I was alive back then – even though my roots might suggest otherwise – but I’ve read books.

At the onset of this madness, I channeled my inner Dr. Seuss and revised his Green Eggs and Ham to my own version dealing with the pandemic. I filmed it and posted it on Facebook thinking my friends would get a kick out of it, and I acted quickly on my homage to COVID as I was certain that we would be out of the woods by Easter.

An ever so quick fast forward, and it’s December. And yes, we are still dealing with the persistent pandemic. Now I’m not certain what Christmas will actually look like this year, but I’ve decided on a personal theme for the Kaminski Christmas this year: sparkle. I plan to outsparkle and outshine any negative naysayers during the month of December because frankly, sparkles make me happy. My Santa hat sparkles, my facemask sparkles, my tennis shoes sparkle, my champagne sparkles, my car steering wheel sparkles, heck even my water sparkles. If it doesn’t sparkle and shine this month – in an over the top borderline annoying type of way – I’m just not having it. After all, how can you not have an amazing attitude and exude joy when everything around you sparkles?

Debbie Marcell and Patti at a sparkling affair – the Becker wedding – at the Smart Financial Centre.

Now I must confess, I’m a novice at this sparkling thing because true sparkling is more than just donning sequins. But I have some amazing friends who have sparkled for years, and I’m channeling them as needed. For over 20 years, Debbie Marcell has sparkled in my life. She’s a blinding sparkle – kind of like a brilliant, beautiful meteor in the sky – as she shines at warp speed. You have to look quick to catch her glimmer, but when you do, it’s stunning.

Susie Goff in all her Christmas glitzy glory. No one does it better!

Susie Goff is another friend who is a serial sparkler. Everything about her glimmers and makes you smile. It’s been said that Disney World is the happiest place on earth. I would argue that the sparkling Goff home during Christmas is at the least the happiest place in Sugar Land because all that glitters is not gold; it’s Susie, and she’s amazing.

Deanna McDonald and Patti at the glittery Jingle Tree at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land.

Another amazing friend who has been in my life for over 20 years is all about the shiny. Her very presence exudes joy from her sparkling blue eyes to her heart that is truly made of gold. Deanna McDonald is the truest of sparkles as she sparkles from her soul. Joy emanates from her in a blinding beautiful light. She’s always half full, and her half full contains bubbles. Now that’s what I call sparkle.

Now I know what you’re thinking – this rhinestone rhapsody might be a bit much for Tim Kaminski this holiday season. But alas, that’s not the case. He’s finally come around to my way of thinking about most things, and it’s only taken 26 years. Just the other day I bought a new comforter for our bed. He told me that he loved it, and when I changed my mind and decided that I didn’t love it, he told me he didn’t love it either. See how that works? That man is brilliant.

My prayer for you this December is that you sparkle brightly and please, share your sequins, because we all need a little sparkle right now.