It’s a first. I finished with all Christmas shopping well in advance. Not only am I done buying it, but last night I wrapped it all. I am way, way, way ahead of schedule. There was a time in life when I waited until the night before or Christmas morning to wrap the presents. Usually this involved a beer or cocktail. It was a ritual of sorts.
Of course, I only buy for four people. To the rest of the world, my gift to them is that they don’t have to bother with a gift for me. I think it’s a very equitable arrangement. I’m one less person that you have to buy for. That’s nice, isn’t it?
One of the other things I have to do to prepare is finish “the letter.” I started writing one of those year in review newsletters to include in cards to the family about five or six years ago. It was a joke, but it turns out that my family actually likes to get it. The one year I didn’t write it, my Great Aunt Imogene complained. She was actually pissed. Well, Aunt Genie has passed away, but knowing that she would have been hopping mad if I didn’t write it, I feel like it’s a tradition that I have to continue. This year’s version came out quite snarky, so I may have to rewrite it.
So, Christmas Eve you’ll find me at Strange Manor, as always. There will be dozens of friends, a gift exchange gamey thing, Rock Star the video game, maybe some karaoke. (It’s my personal goal that my gift will be the most fought over in the exchange/steal game, but it never is.) It’ll be good times. Those crazy kids put out Volume 2 of their holiday CD, and I have to say, Mr. V-Rock blew me away. Who knew that kid could sing?
Christmas Day, I’ll be hopping on a plane and floating off to Washington (state not district) to hang with the parents for a week. It’ll be good to get away, and frankly, to be fed by my mother in a way that only a youngest child can be.
Oh, and did I mention that I’m still working my after school, holiday, part-time, retail, mall job at FYE? Good times. I actually yelled at a couple of little kids last weekend. I may not be Santa, but I know naughty when I see it!
Just sayin’.
Peggy Lu Who's Just Sayin' 