Chapter 2
The few weeks after MaryEllen’s
concert were hectic. Preliminary plans for Christmas eve were made and then
attention was turned to finalizing gifts for everybody. I was able to use
Amazon and a few other sites for the bulk of the gifts and Karen was kind of
enough to do all the store stuff. I went into a few stores the last few
days(and yes Christmas eve) for Karen.
Events had been moving along smoothly
in the week before Christmas. We actually had a plan for wrapping gifts after
the kids went to bed and getting everything else ready. We were lucky during
this time to have been invited to my sister Joan’s house for dinner on
Christmas day. She just asked if we
could give her an answer by the Thursday before so she would know how many to
prepare for. Karen and I talked about it and I called Joan on the Wednesday and
said we would love to come. Thinking we were set with Karen’s sister having the
eve where we would bring a dish or three and day at Joan’s we were in a great
place.
On the Sunday leading up to Christmas
Karen took MaryEllen out for some mom and daughter stuff and I hung with the
boys for some football and video games. It was a fun day for everybody with
some much needed relaxation. Then the text message from her sister Lisa came.
“let me know
what we can bring xmas eve”
From the last we knew, Lisa was
cooking Christmas Eve at her mom’s and we were bringing several dishes. Karen
said let me go to down to my mom’s(she lives the next street over…I know I
know) It was probably close to 7pm when
Karen left. My plan for that night was to have the kids in bed by 10 and then
finish most of the wrapping by midnight.
I was working a full day Monday but slept in Sunday so I was ready to go. I
figured whatever was left could be finished Monday night by 11 and I was out of
work at 11am Christmas eve. Yep, then Karen came home a little before 9.
Spitting nails, yep, Christmas eve at our place, 13 people and 4 seafood
dishes, they’re bring the rest to make the 7 fishes Italian thing. Did I mention that our house was a shithole
mess? Well it was. The tree was up but we had boxes and totes and needles and a
months worth of crap around the house.
We survived. Karen made her baked
scallops and cod dish(my fav) and all was right in the world. I very nice
evening was had by all. I guess we didn’t forget how to host, as it has been a
long time. As I am sure most of you gentle readers know, when seafood is cooked
prompt cleanup is essential. At 11pm I sent Karen to bed knowing I was going to
need some backup in the morning. After finishing the kitchen I was able to
tackle the rest of the wrapping, which had been neglected since Saturday. The
kids were up at 7 so after 4 or so hours of sleep we had a great morning. I’m
sure Karen had about the same amount of sleep as me, as the stockings were
stuffed with care and the presents were done. A breakfast of pancakes and bacon
sent the kids into the day with glee. Karen and I took a nap. Woke at half past
noon and made it to sister Joan’s for 2 for a wonderful dinner of Crown Roast of
Pork. Oh, and she had me make the gravy, I felt honored too, as it was
something I did as an adult was to always ask my mom to show me how she made
her gravy.
So it was a crazy few days. Wishing a
few people could be a little more decisive and forward thinking, and wishing we
could win the lottery but the kids got gifts from their lists and seeing their
smiles Christmas morning with Karen makes everything else disappear.
Then I hear Grandma’s Family Christmas
dinner is Sunday and not Saturday……
