Easing Back Into Reality

1. Christmas Day is always a big old hullabaloo with mother and Ned, and Hank's mother and difficult half brother.  Every year we hope it will be different but for the last five or so years, it hasn't. We hope. We pray. We survive.
2. On a positive note, I began my strategic maneuvers to move Christmas Day to our house next year. Hosting the family here would in and of itself, I believe, decrease the hullabaloo factor tremendously. I'm not entirely sure, but I think I made progress and may have an ally in my cousin Elizabeth, who 'bout died doing everything by herself this year. I don't see that changing for her and even if we could alternate years, I would be so happy!  When I spoke to her on the phone Christmas night, I said, We enjoyed today, you really did work hard.  She replied...Yes, I DID.  I countered with, You know I'm ready to take over Christmas anytime you say the word.  She came back with, We'll talk.  Her mother, my aunt, was standing beside her or we might have sealed the deal right then.  What do you think...should I be hopeful??
3. December 26 was a big old fairy tale day. It snowed all day long.  Even though the snow didn't stick, it was beautiful to watch as Legare and I sat around by the fire drinking coffee and hot chocolate while reading and watching movies.  Lorelai, who finds it nearly impossible to just sit around, went out and about in the snow with our next door neighbors.  Hank rolled out toward Hometown about 8 AM and got back about 5 PM. Everybody did just what they wanted to do and that does NOT happen often around here.
4. Today, we're trying to do a little straightening up and putting away. I have to go back to work tomorrow and Wednesday from 8 AM to 1 PM. We have a friend (or two) of Legare's coming in on Wednesday through the New Year. They'll head down to the Beaufort house sometime around New Years Day to round out their holiday.  Hank and I will stay home, watch a bowl game or two and put away the Christmas decorations. I will feel compelled to fix collard greens and hoppin' john even if it's just the two of us. Never can be too careful.
5. We, Hank, Legare, Lorelai, and I, all agree without hesitation that we are tired of eating.  Isn't that sinful to say when there are so many hungry people in the world...and right here in our own community? I put two pound cake gifts and a few other sweets in the freezer this very morning. (They're delicious...we tasted them even thought we're tired of eating.) Another sin and shame is that sometime next fall, I'll notice them still sitting there in the freezer and we'll end up throwing them out.
6. I leave you with a photograph.  Rarely, are photos of me taken because I'm always the photographer. Hank snapped this of Legare and me as we left on Christmas morning (because we always have take two cars due to anticipated hullabaloo...)