Christmas

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love.
-- Ada V. Hendricks

Monday, December 25, 2000
One year ago: Christmas Day
Two years ago: Christmas Day
Three years ago: Yuletide

Don't miss out, folks who just read the latest entry -- this whole batch starts here.

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What a good day! I see that last year Jack was concerned that I didn't go over to my sister's house on Christmas morning, but I was there the evening before! And it was the same this year.

I finally got myself caught up with journal entries, and worked on getting my things together for SONW. My bed is now mostly clear, but for a while it was piled with dresses, tights, hair doo-dads, and other assorted pieces of clothing. I think I'm taking more different outfits this time. I want to be able to change when I feel like it, I guess.

I was on such a roll writing journal entries that I was reluctant to leave the keyboard and get ready to go to W--- and J----'s house. I did though, and was glad for it. (They are the same folks who held the open house I was at three years ago.) I thought I'd delayed my arrival, but I saw Father Tony leaving just as I was arriving, and he cried, "You're number two!" He was the only one who had come so early, and he had to go down to the Seamen's mission to say another mass. This puzzled me, since my sister had told me that three o'clock was the set time and it was now almost three thirty. Ah well, no problem.

W--- and J---- and I sat in the living room and chatted. They have a gorgeous tree this year! The event was in the nature of an open house, so various friends started arriving soon. My sister and her family didn't show up for an hour or so -- they went to the Experience Music Project today and got a later start than she'd planned on. (Every once in a while my brother-in-law moves very slowly, finding articles in the newspaper that must be read, or bills that need to be paid, while my sister and the two boys are waiting, ready to go.)

There was a good spread on the buffet, though I'd skated on bringing a contribution myself. Shrimp, chicken wings, and especially some delicious olive oil with sea salt to dip bread and veggies in.

I remembered to bring the books I'd forgotten yesterday, and the video my nephew had asked to borrow. I'll be curious to know what he makes of Mark Morris's The Hard Nut.

I checked in with Greg, my passenger tomorrow. He's ready to go! and so am I.