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……