[img]396|left|Alex Campbell||no_popup[/img]Here's how I did Christmas this year, in “jotting down notes” form.
Thursday, 12/24
Wake up at 3 a.m., get picked up by taxi at 4 a.m. Catch flight at 5:30 a.m.
Arrive in CA at 10:10 a.m., a half hour early. Be thankful uncle has checked Flight Tracker and is there to pick you up early. Reunite with aunt and cousins and go to local Mexican place for tacquitos, 5 for $3. Go to meditation garden and get your zen on. See koi fish on steroids. Feel at peace. On way out, see whales in ocean. Take pictures. Be amazed. Hang around. Eat. Talk. Stare at younger cousin and remark that she looks so much like your deceased mother it's sort of messing with your head. Cry. Go to bed. Sleep for 12 hours.
Friday, 12/25
Awake Christmas morning to the smells of French toast made with cinnamon bread. See aunt's, uncle's and cousins' stockings. Be touched because they are the same pattern as the ones your mom made when you were a child. Be shocked when aunt presents you with one your mom had made for you the year you had Christmas with aunt and uncle when you were twelve. Cry.
Open presents. Love presents. Parade around in handmade apron made by uncle. Cuddle up with quilt made by uncle. Wrap hand- knit scarf made by aunt around neck and feel very loved. Sit by the fire. Eat a cookie. Hang around. Talk. Eat a piece of chocolate. Call loved ones to wish them a Merry Christmas. Sit by the fire. Eat. Take pictures.
Enjoy Christmas dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, salad and pumpkin pie. Participate in discussion of penmanship and handedness. Be amazed when 80-year-old guest remarks that she can write with both hands, and squeal with delight as she demonstrates mirror-writing her name! Vow to yourself you will practice writing with your other hand, and get so good people can't tell which hand you used.
Sleep in bed with memory foam mattress topper and feel like you're at the Hilton. Go to bathroom in middle of night, turn on light, and see a silverfish. Get really creeped out. Do your business with feet suspended in air and finish quickly. Feel relieved when silverfish crawls away under door. Wash hands and exit bathroom. Step on aforementioned silverfish, feeling it squish under your bare foot. Feel completely disgusted. Put on socks and go back to bed.
Saturday, 12/26
Wake up, having slept 11 hours. Feel refreshed. Look forward to New Year's Eve, which you will celebrate on a flight back to Boston. Get ready to party with flight attendants, and arrive before 5 a.m. Happy New Year 2010!
Ms. Campbell may be contacted at campbellalexandra@hotmail.com
