December 24th, 2011
14 / Family / Love
“No, you’re not out of the family. You’re just misguided.”
—Grandma, 12/24/11, re: me being a Democrat
“Ian! Now I can’t take the picture.”
—Jane, 12/24/11, after Ian fell flat on his back from Erik’s shoulders
“Who wants to play Go Fish: Game of the Unknown.”
—Ian, 12/24/11
“My! My! Time flies! A new day is on its way / so let’s let yesterday go”
—Enya
“And when we worry / and we can’t sleep / we’ll count our blessings / instead of sheep / and we’ll / fall asleep / counting our blessings”
—Ray Conniff singers
Wow. Is Christmas Eve already? (14 years of this already?)
Today I woke up, warm safe sheltered. With my love. Drove in the gold rising sunlight as he slept in the car beside me. Arrived at a place I’ve visited many a time in my Christmases past, to be with people who’ve known me for almost every one. Ate and ate and ate (as genetics command). Was ushered into the basement to eat more, shared secrets and struggles with one cousin, traded tech tips and jokes with others. Found myself in an intense political debate with an uncle, saved by aunts, arguing about teacher pay and taxes, confessed my status as a Democrat to my Grandma who then got up and left (a coincidence, but still funny). Back upstairs to make fun of another aunt’s four crazy kids (as she threatened payback one day…we will see), receive yet another slightly dirty Xmas gift from my ‘twin’ cousin, reminisce about Christmases as toddlers/etc, laugh at my dad for his gift-shopping-ON-XMAS skillz, participate in a weigh-off/guess my weight. Demanded an awkward family photo. Said goodbyes and happy New Year.
Drove on in the setting sun, looking at lights, laughing with my husband, my sister, my almost-brother-in-law. Home to a house with shining gifts, old Christmas tree bulbs, a stocked kitchen, chips in the coat closet (???). Parents who insist on going out at 7pm on Christmas Eve for more Bloody Mary mix (but don’t announce their departure??). Sister who chops and giggles and sets up Monopoly. Eating and laughing and building empires and “death row.” Competition to the end, cleaning up, joked about underwear in the hallway with my sister. Then snuggled in bed with my love once more.
Talked quietly by the tree with my husband about how lucky we both felt to have each other, to have made it through this year, its wild tests.
Today was a great day. Merry Christmas, friends.