You had snow! That has to be very rare indeed. How cold is it there? And thank you for such a sweet story.
Edit: I have no idea where all these words came from-- must be one of those bubblewrap attacks. A Popcorn Post.
We had friends stop by so I spent the morning baking, and then last night we watched the Christmas Story which runs for 24 hours on some channel. We know every line by heart and it would be unpleasant to watch with us since we say the lines before the actors do and then laugh uproariously at ourselves. Or a scene reminds us of something that happened some other year when we watched it and we have to retell it. The movie has been a tradition since the boys were very small, smaller than Ralphie and Randy in the movie, so it is more of a ritual event with designated behaviors and established dialogue than a moviewatching.
The only disturbing moment was when Ralphie has to eat soap for saying a bad word and has one of those "you'll be sorry" fantasies and Ammo said- in a new improvisation to the ritual-boy, I can remember having those. ANd CW said, yeah, me too.
And Dan and I sat there wondering what we had done to them, since we think we were absolutely perfect.
I said,yeah. well, I had those too- where you all would come to my funeral with stinky clothes and growling stomachs and say, gosh mom, we didn't know you had to actually wash clothes and cook food on a stove. All those years, you slaved for us and we didn't KNOW.
They just gave me the Rolled Eye Look.
We went to bed and the boys went out to the poolhouse to play drums and guitar til who knows when. I just looked and CW is sleeping in Ammo's room which brought tears to my eyes. That too is an old childhood tradition. They have their robes laid over the bed for the morning (on all other days of the year, a robe is considered a girlyman item), when CW will come down, get the stockings and take them up to Ammo. CW is a stickler for traditions.
I still have to stuff the stockings and bring down their big presents. I probably have all morning to get it done, but I woke up early when my grandkitty jumped on me. I can't believe I actually wrapped presents for the cat. The stockings are filled with manly items this year. Dan bought cigars and small bottles of liqueurs. A friend suggested we add condoms and Playboys and he actually considered it until I said absolutely NOT. My contribution is digital tire pressure gauges and deodorant, but I also added these great blinking lightup teeth that personally I think will steal the show- especially if they wear them to the grandparents'.
I was talking to my brother last night. We had invited him of course, but he said he couldn't face a family Christmas yet and was just going to work through and spend it with their five ancient cats. He said the only gifts he bought were kitty gifts because Carole always did. She loved Christmas and this has to be a really hard time for him. It does make me very, very grateful that we are all together here for another year. I don't want to get frightened of life, but lately it feels far more precarious to me. |
