THE DAY AFTER

It was a thrill to walk into my daughter’s house and see the new stove. It is beautiful. My son-in-laws-brother arrived early on Saturday to correct the wiring problem. No problem for him. It was done without issue. Even better than seeing the stove was seeing her cooking on the stovetop with items in the oven as well. I had a brief cry again.

I love my son-in-laws family but I did approach the evening with some trepidation. The house is small. The living room, dining room and kitchen are all one room. While the kids could play some in the kid’s bedrooms upstairs, I suspected they would mostly be down stairs. They were.

The noise level built gradually. The early arrivers were able to play outside for a while. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining. It looked like we should set out and decorate a palm tree. A light sweatshirt was all that was needed.

When all the cousins are together, there are nine. The last arrivals have four. They are loud and not always controlled. I watched the daughter peal an orange and drop the skins into an open bagged Christmas gift. I was the furthest adult from her, but maybe the only one who saw the action. I wanted to scream at her, but like a nice little grandpa I kept my mouth shut. I am not the parent.

While the noise was already at a Piper Cub sound level, it quickly grew to a Boeing 747 level. Getting their attention for prayer was a major undertaking. It took very little time for my head to begin throbbing. I could not follow any conversation and the chaos built until my nerves seemed to crash in. I pulled my daughter aside and tried to explain what was happening to me. I then excused myself and went home.

As I was driving away I noticed my churches Christmas Eve service was starting in fifteen minutes. I arrived only five minutes late. It was so peaceful and calm. It helped me come down gently. There was a beautiful violin as part of the smaller worship band. Peaceful. I needed that. It was good to be in the house of the Lord.

I was wiped out when I got home, but chose to finish my latest J.A. Jance mystery book. Great ending. She handles ending smoothly. They are dramatic, but not drawn out. After the killer is determined and caught, usually in the very true to life ways, there is a chapter taking the character back to normal life. I like that.

I returned to my daughters Christmas Day to be with just them. It was wonderful. We all have a great deal of excitement about that day. While excited, the kids are older and completely under control. I loved it. I left about 5:00 and came home only to fall asleep three times in my recliner. I had no reason to stay up even though was early but I could not seem to stay awake long enough make it to the bedroom. So, when I finally did wake up enough to move myself, I was wide-awake for another couple of hours. Yuck. I know I will nap off an on most of the day and I’m looking forward to it. My apartment needs to be cleaned, but tomorrow or the next day it can be done. After all, it is only I walking around in the dirt and I don’t mind — especially when it is my dirt.

MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

Who knew that the true meaning of Christmas was gorgeous women strutting around in their underwear with flowing see through gauzy pieces of cloth draped over their shoulders? I was inundated with the image at nearly every commercial last night. I think it was ABC advertizing the coming Victoria Secret display of flesh that is meant to pass as a legitimate and worthwhile TV Christmas show. I should probably be pay per-view.

No doubt the viewing audience will be very high. We men like seeing nearly naked women in any setting. The promotion, which began in the family hour (is there still a family hour on TV anymore), had women in smaller pieces of cloth than the average bikini. I have no idea what holds those 3-4” wisps of cloth in place. They appear to defy gravity. Yes, strings are attached, but the chunks of cloth barely cover the (ahem) appropriate parts of the anatomy. I swear there has to be glue under there.

I was reading today that the movie studios have not and will not be opening with any Christmas films this year. There is no market and the field is already over crowded. So sit down and watch A Christmas Story one more time. It is now one of biggest Christmas film ever. You can’t beat a leg lamp for great Christmas entertainment! Yes, I loved the film. I even used one of my favorite lines on my grandson last year when he wanted a BB gun for Christmas. Of course I said, “You’ll shoot your eye out.” He was eight and he responded with that’s from A Christmas Story. Now with a Broadway bound musical based on A Christmas Story — it’s popularity will grow even more. It was exceptionally funny. Personally I love the film.

We used to be worried about the commercialization of Christmas. It stopped very few people from packing packages under the “holiday” tree. We have increasing worried about the push to Christmas sales earlier and earlier each year. With all due apologies to you who may be horrified that decorations and Christmas sales begin before Thanksgiving, but that is all artificial dates anyway. If you really want to avoid the crowds, you should shop in the summer while everyone else is at the beach. There are no Christmas sales, just summer clearance sales.

Black Friday, the traditional day for getting people out of bed in the middle of the night to go shopping, began right after Halloween this year. You see Christmas is really about spending money — and watching nearly naked women bounce down a runway. At least that’s what our culture says.

I shopped before Thanksgiving because I hate crowds, mall and big box stores. I will not watch Victoria Secrets exposure of the very few secrets they are hiding. I’ve got enough problems as it is. I know that even though I am alone I will turn on my CD copy of the Messiah – all of it, read the Biblical version of the Christmas Story, pray for my family, friends, the poor and others. I will make a very nice cup of coffee (I can’t have a sugar filled hot chocolate anymore), and eat a piece of pumpkin pie while I await the Hallelujah chorus and the joy and tingle I feel when hearing Handel’s magnificent anthem that makes me see God and be thankful for the birth of the Savior. I love this time of year.