November 9, 2001
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'Tis the Season
Well, its getting to be that season of the year again. Every year SOMEONE on my list causes me to way exceed my carefully planned budget for holiday expenditure. This year - it's wormy.
I had already planned what he was getting for Christmas, he had requested an afghan. And, hey, for once I'm actually on schedule with my holiday gift making so he's going to get it! He's also going to get - let's see, I just got home from shopping a little while ago and I don't want to spoil anything by naming things he doesn't know about - let's just say that instead of one present from his sister, this year he's already up to five wrapped packages.
Does it seem strange to you that I'm so far ahead of the season? Wormy - David - is in Korea this year. I haven't spent every one of his 30 Christmases on this earth with him, but this is the first time that he's been SO far from home, and away from ALL of us. I miss him. I usually only see him a couple times a year, and then I usually spend far more time griping at him to lay off smoking than I spend telling him how much I love him. He's one of those people who willingly sacrifice the comforts of home and family for the opportunity to serve our country. And it is a sacrifice.
I'm 38 years old. And I can say that EVERY Christmas Eve spent under my parents roof, whichever of their kids who are able to be there, sleep under the Christmas tree. In 38 years none of us have ever "caught" Santa Claus. Madeline has stories about waking up to discover that her pillow has been removed and replaced with a present without waking her. David usually gets cold and is buried under all the packages by morning. I'm a little too cool to actually sleep under the tree the way they do, but I'm not too cool to sleep on the couch right next to it. I was still in college the last time that littleredtahbo and I shared Christmas under the same roof.
By now we all have kids. (Except David, as far as we know
And I wonder what they think. I know Christmas is supposed to be for kids, but in my family, we haven't yet figured out that WE aren't the kids any more.
I hate that one of the kids is missing. So I'm blowing my budget on him this year. If all the rest of you get potholders . . . just treasure them because they will be made from the scraps of yarn left over from the afghan David got the year he was gone from us.
Comments (7)
All righty then, I want a potholder. My kitchen is green and white, you know that cutesy ivy stuff? Hey, hey, it's not my choice but when we moved into the house, the kitchen had just been redone so it'll be the last thing we change.
Your Christmases sound wonderful, by the way.
I just love hearing the love echoing in each of the voices of your family members! My family will be together for the first Christmas in 8 years - my east coast brother and wife with their first child off to college (and like me, with a 4 year old as well) and our west coast crew including the son working in Missouri, daughter in college in S. CA and the short people. I know that the only reason we're all making the effort to fly home to Texas is our parents' 50th anniversary celebration - but I'm so happy for the excuse!
Awwwwwww...
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh tell me anyway. I never could stand suspense. tell me tell me tell me tell me. I promise I won't read the e-mail until Xmas day! Scouts honor. (oh wait, I never was much of a scout) ummm, how bout if I swear on my dead mothers grave? (umm, that doesn't work either, my mom isn't dead).......well. I promise I won't read it.
You do believe me don't you?
with a sweet face like this 
I have plans myself for Wormy and I hope I will be able to make it happen. I miss him myself and I can't wait until he is home to stay (even if it is a short time). Are you going to give him a hint?
Hopefully HE treasured his present.
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