My usual Christmas consists of sleeping in as late as possible (which is usually about 7:00 a.m., before the phone starts ringing with well wishers), eating a late breakfast and vegging out in front of the television all day.
This year was different though. A few days ago I thought I'd be alone again on Christmas (as the past 4-5 years have been). And that really bugs me because even though I'm not big on Christmas to begin with I would still like my family to be around.
I thought my mom would end up at her on again, off again boyfriend's place, and my brother would be God knows where, but they both proved me wrong. Not only were they both home but we all actually ate breakfast, opened presents and watched t.v. together. And of course Christmas dinner in the evening.
Funny thing about the presents this year. Everyone who gave me anything must have been paying extra special attention.
Why do I say that?
Well . . . let me start off by saying I'm always appreciative about what I receive. Seriously, I'm not just saying that. I know there's a lot more people in the world who don't even have half of what I have so I'm grateful for everything I have (most of which I don't need, but that's another story). Anyway, so as I was saying, the givers were incredibly thoughtful with what they picked out.
For instance, my oldest brother gave me two cds. One was the newest Green Day album: American Idiot. I LOVE Green Day. I'm already on the second playing of the album.
He also gave me the latest Coldplay cd. Now this is interesting because I'm going to see Coldplay in a couple months when they come to Houston. He didn't know I bought tickets to the concert. In fact I don't think he knows much about my favorite bands and artists unless he just happened to walk in my room and look at my extensive cd collection, but then he could have gotten anything from Frank Sinatra to Norah Jones to Audioslave and I would have been happy. But he buys me an album of a band I'm going to see soon. Cool!
Here's another funny story. Well it is to me anyway . . . my friend Anna at work gave me a book. Two actually, but we'll talk about this one for right now. It's a Calvin & Hobbes collection: Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat.
No one else in the entire WORLD would have thought to have given me that book. It's crazy that she even gave it to me! Let me tell you the coincidence in the story: a few weeks ago the parental figure and I were in a book store looking for something for my niece and we came across this stand which held a book similar to the one I got, also Calvin & Hobbes. I was slowly flipping through it and reading the strips when my mom called my name and I go to turn a page and accidentally rip the bottom of a page. Mind you it was a very small rip, not even a half inch long, but still. I immediately look around to see if I had been caught. After realizing no one was looking I slowly walk away, whistling to myself.
So needless to say, when I tore open what Anna gave me my first reaction was to laugh. I'll have to tell her the story tomorrow. She'll get a kick out of it.
And my mom of course. Lately her trend has been to get me jewelry.
I'll let you know one thing about me: I'm finicky when it comes to jewelry. I don't do gold. I only wear real jewelry and only very simple rings and necklaces. I don't like watches (though I wear one only when at work), bracelets, anklets or toe rings.
And my mom has obviously caught on. For the past two years she's given me sterling silver necklaces. Both have been simple rope chains with a beautiful religious pendant.
Last year it was an old fashioned cross that I swear was nearly stolen right off my neck! I used to wear it to work and I'd have people reaching up to my neck and grasping the cross in their hands to 'get a better look at it.' It was mostly short Hispanic women who would often ask me (in Spanish), "Where did you get this?" And after I'd tell them it was a gift they'd want to know where my mom got it from.
Which is another thing about my mom, she never gets these things from jewelry stores. I don't know where she gets them, but they're truly unique. The one she gave me this year is a circular pendant with praying hands on the front and the Serenity Prayer on the back:
God give me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change
the things I can,
and the wisdom
to know the difference.
Heh . . . she doesn't know how many times these past two weeks I've gone into work muttering the first half of that prayer under my breath.
Overall today was a nice day, and not because of the presents. The fact that each little gift was incredibly thoughtful and said something about the presenter is what made me happy. That and the comfort of knowing my family, for the most part, is in one peace helped to cease my frazzled nerves. God only knows how the holidays can zap my sense of inner peace faster than lightning can.
Hopefully the remainder of the year will finish out the way this week started and I can start looking forward to all the crazy changes that are sure to take place next year. I know I'll need the courage.
Random thought of the day: I love hair cuts! They always make me want to shake my head like dogs do and lick myself.
