Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas if you celebrate it and more merriment

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it!


I had another surprise yesterday when my brother also called from Iraq. The best part was that he said he loved me twice which made me feel all gushy and sad and then I cried a little. He called when I wasn't home and was over at BJM's house getting ready for her Christmas Eve party.


Every year for the past several years I spend Christmas Eve over at her house with her family. I don't drink or anything and I go early and am the first to leave but it's a fun tradition that I really look forward to each year. I arrive a few hours before the rest of the guests and help my friend put together some goodies, unwrap plates and napkins, and shell boiled eggs and do other simple tasks. Simple being the name of the game.


We chatter, and arrange food and exchange gifts and get ready for the general merriment that comes with each new arrival. I like her family very much and they always seem to like me well enough in return. It's one of my favorite parts of the secular part of the holiday season.


I tell my cat, Franklin, that his birthday is on Christmas so he got a huge stocking today filled with goodies like fresh catnip, new mice to chew on, balls to roll around and a laser pointer shaped like a mouse. He just ate some catnip and we played with one of the mice for a while. He's now happily settled in his big red cube.


I opened up my last few presents from my parents today and my stocking. I have some fun scratch off crossword puzzle lottery tickets which I will stretch out over the next few days to see if I am a big winner. I made a new lasagna for me today and I'll put some in the freezer for the future. Tomorrow I will head back towards the Special K lifestyle and in another day or so I should be happily back on track because I don't go out and do anything special for New Year's Eve. I'll go over to my parents' house for ham on New Year's Day and that's about the size of it in my quiet world.


Happy holidays no matter what or when you celebrate!

3 comments:

Denver Refashionista said...

I'm glad you had a nice time at the party and that you got to hear from your brother. May the new year bring you good things.

Diane said...

Sounds Fabulous! That is awesome your brother called! Enjoy Ham on New Years - we had it for Christmas! :)

Webster said...

It sounds like your Christmas went very well. I'm so happy for you that you got to talk with your sister AND hear from your brother in Iraq. As you are thinking of them, they are also thinking of you.

Ham on New Years Day was my Mom's family tradition. I loved it after two holidays with turkey. Hope you enjoy yours!