Getting ready for Christmas–snowstorm style
A week early but still beautiful, the snow has made getting a Christmas tree impossible, but gave us an extra day with the most incredible friends from overseas. We didn’t have a Christmas party this evening but three apartments from my building converged on my house after an impromptu snowball fight to have sipping chocolate and Turkish Delight and banana bread another friend brought to us this week. We didn’t get to go to the Choral Arts sing, but we played Go Fish and made Turkish coffee and stole a few extra moments together. My son got an extra dose of Crazy Finger from my friend’s husband, and the shrieks of utter delight raised the temp in my chilly house a good 15 degrees. So so good to watch him so delighted.
The city is muffled and restrained tonight, pinned under the weight of a blanket of white. My son and I cried for a good half an hour after our friends finally left tonight, having decided to abandon their hopes for a flight and are now driving to Missouri. But, as I said to him as I blew my nose for the umpteenth time and laughed at the pile of tissues we were accumulating: “Boo, I’d rather be heartbroken to say goodbye to such good friends than to not have friends like that in my life.” My Christmas came a week early this year, and it’s just going to get better, with my parents and my friends all moving towards a new decade together.
How are you celebrating your holidays this season?
We have family in from out of town tomorrow and possible stranded where they sit. We have a saucer sled and a hill from the base of the Washington Monument that begs for some sliding. We have the rest of our hand-made gifts to contemplate, a mystery adventure tomorrow evening, God willing, and I have the makings for some Chocolate Wine for whenever I get it together to be festive. It is Christmas. I am grateful.
I have said it many times here, but I really am amazed at the friends I have. Such beautiful, honest, giving, warm souls. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
There are no words. Merry Christmas. May the new year bring you joy.