I am Irish. Well, technically I am half Irish and half Mexican. Okay, okay… if you want to get really technical I am half Mexican, almost half Irish with a smattering of German and a teeny pinch of English. The point is the middle of March is a busy time for me and my family.
Growing up, the 17th of March has always been a big deal. We have marched in a little, local parade for going on three decades. It is a rag-tag group of families walking down the streets of Dogtown, yelling at friends and neighbors and waving to random strangers like bawdy runner’s-up in a d-list beauty pageant. Like our pageant counter parts we take great care in our appearance. Unlike the beauty queens, our garments usually involve smart-aleck tee-shirts in shades of emerald and jade with complementary bright green hued feather boas, socks and hats. It is a sight to see.
Needless to say, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. This year we marched under the banner of “The Real Housewives of Dogtown” with my 80-something year old great aunt waving from a convertible. We threw plastic cabbages, snakes and beads to the crowd; who screamed for them like they were made of real emeralds and not cheap bits of plastic. It was a great time.
For the past few years I have kind of taken the parade for granted. We would show up, act rowdy for the day and then pack away our green gear until next year. That was until my aunt sent out a message stating that this was the last year we would march, unless someone else wanted to take the reins. Now it seems as if it is up to my generation to carry on the tradition. This has me thinking about family, and traditions, about what is too important to let fade away. In the next couple of weeks I will write about my family, the ragtag group of people who surround me every day. These amazing stories that are too cool to simply fade into memory.
I hope you like them.
How quickly the time flies. It has been a couple of weeks since I have been able to devote any time to my blog, and surprisingly I missed it. The past few weeks have been intense, hectic and fun. Before these memories are erased by a new school semester, a new year and the average running that makes up my life, I thought I should write them down. I wanted to take a look at some of the moments that made this holiday special, the ordinary moments I tend to forget by February. Here is my list:
There was the moment you run into an old friend and you are able to pick up right where you left off. In my case it had been twelve years, and it seems a cup of coffee was all it took to pick right back up. Oh, the simple joys of easy friendships.
The moment that you realize your kiddo is paying attention. Madison picked up a bell, a Christmas decoration, and started ringing it as hard as her chubby little arms would let her. She started yelling, “Who has money? Who has money?” I asked my little bell ringer what she was doing and she replied, “Getting money for the people who don’t have any.” Lesson learned.
My sister was quick to point out that the Salvation Army bell ringers hang out in places of commerce, like outside of grocery stores and shopping malls. She thought it was a sign that I shop to much, and she may be right. Instead I chose to think that my wanton consuming at the holiday season can have an educational affect on my daughter as well as a slimming affect on my wallet. Not to mention the positive effects on the economy. That’s my story and I am sticking to it. The moment that I realized denial and rationalization has yet to fail me.
There was also the moment that my dear friend graduated from college. I was caught off guard with all of the things I wanted to tell her. I wanted to say that it seemed a shame that her hard work was overshadowed by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. I wanted to tell her how amazing it was that she put herself through school, while working full time and supporting herself. I wanted to tell her that she was an inspiration to me. No matter what life threw her way including bad boyfriends, awful bosses, layoffs and bad luck in general; she never ever gave up. I wanted to say all of these things and more, but couldn’t figure out a way that didn’t sound condescending or trite. Instead I just bought her a kick-ass graduation gift; another nod to my philosophy that retail therapy can work wonders when you can’t find the words.
There was the moment, sitting down to breakfast at my in-laws, that I was truly thankful for holiday traditions. Especially if the traditions are as delicious as breakfast casserole and Christmas cookies. Some of my in-laws’ traditions are very different than what I grew up with. For example, they always took turns opening one present at a time whereas my family was a wrapping paper free-for-all. This year there was also the moment that I realized how much their traditions have become my own as well; that I love opening presents one at a time and eating Christmas cookies with breakfast.
There was the moment when I was finally ready to host Christmas dinner. That moment of peace when you realize that everything is done; the house is clean, the gifts are wrapped the food prepared. This moment happened thirty minutes before everyone arrived so it was a little later than I would have liked, but it was a nice moment none the less.
The moment that the family descended on the house and the feasting began. The chaotic rush of present opening and eating and laughing; there is nothing like it at any other time in the year. This was a moment of mixed emotions, since it was the first Christmas since my parents divorced and the first year that one of us kids hosted Christmas. (I am the oldest and the bossiest so naturally I called dibs on Christmas. Very mature, I know.) Somewhere in the hustle of the evening I looked around at my family and had a realization. We will all be okay. The holidays are different now, and there was that weird moment when my mom and my dad gave my sister identical gifts. (awkward) But despite it all, this was the first holiday when it didn’t feel so tense. This was the moment that I realized that things will get easier.
There was the moment, on the 26th, as I cleaned up the house that I finally realized how much wine we drank the night before. Champagne and wine and then Baileys… and spiked hot cocoa… Bottles clanking, I took the empties out to the recycling and realized I didn’t even have a wisp of a hangover. No headache, no wonky stomach…. It was a Christmas MIRACLE!
But the best moments, by far, where the moments I was able to see Christmas as my three year old daughter saw it. There was the excitement driving past houses that would put the Griswolds to shame, with a blow up nativity next to a waving Santa Claus. There was the moment that we set out cookies and milkbones for Santa and the reindeer. (Reindeer LOVE dog treats.) And then the moment that she realized that Santa had eaten the treats she left for him. There was the moment that she was FINALLY allowed to open her Christmas presents. And the moment she was FINALLY able to give us the gift she had made in pre-school. Christmas can really test a kid’s patience. The gift was a lovely picture frame made of tongue depressors and buttons. There was the moment that she had to give us all check-ups with her new doctor’s kit and the moment I caught her sneaking Christmas candy; her cheeks stuffed with chocolate like a PMS-ing chipmunk.
As I write these I realize that I could keep going for days, so I guess I will add one more moment, a moment that happened just now. This is the moment I realize how very lucky I am. This is a moment I won’t soon forget no matter how busy life gets. (Well, at least I will try.)
Filed under: Holidays | Tags: attitude, christmas, holidays, stress, traditions
‘Tis the season to be crazy; falalalala la la la SCREAM! This is the song I have been singing lately. Catchy, right? I love the holiday season, but it seems each year it gets a little more hectic. When I wake up Christmas morning it is not with the bliss one might expect, but more like a holiday hangover after too much eggnog. I look around and wonder, what happened to the Christmas season?
I know I was there for it. I vaguely recall shopping and cooking and decorating but the images are blurry. And not unlike a bad hangover, I wake up slightly panicked that one way or another I will embarrass myself, with a forgotten gift or a package mix up. (No dad, I was not trying to make a statement by giving you earrings. Yes I know you could totally pull them off if you wanted to.)
With all the rushing and the planning I feel like I never really stop to appreciate the season. A situation I exacerbated by installing new carpet last week. (P.S. You know you are a grown-up when you ask for new carpet for Christmas.) For three days last week I felt like I belonged on one of those reality shows for hoarders. Everything we owned was stuffed into our kitchen and our bedroom with little trails to the front and back door. My attitude is directly proportional to my surroundings. If I had to describe my mood last week the best depiction could only be: completely, off-the-wall, insane, nut-bag. My husband was thrilled.
Did I mention that it was finals time? Brilliant thinking on my part, wouldn’t you say?
So this week I decided it was time for an attitude adjustment, and not just by the glass. (You may have noticed from previous posts that I like wine.) This week I decided to make an effort to enjoy the season. I also decided to take some time to put my head in a better place, as in not SUPER crabby.
So on Tuesday we went to see Christmas lights. Several million twinkling lights and a super excited three year old is bound to put a smile on anyone’s face. I could feel my inner Grinch melting away. We oohhed and aahhed as we turned each corner and drove through sparkling tunnels of light. We stopped at the petting zoo and made several new friends. (Apparently I am very popular with camels. Who knew? I will post a picture later.)
On Wednesday I went to the salon and got my hair done. Nothing makes me feel better than having someone cover all of my grey while gossiping about Glee and Justin Timberlake. Despite the yucky weather I left the salon with a spring in my step and swish of my hair; singing “All I Want for Christmas” and harnessing my inner Mariah Carey the whole way home. I swear I hit notes that only dogs could hear, but I don’t care.
Today I woke up and got a massage before heading off into the shopping fray. A little lavender scented oils and an awesome heated massage table is a great attitude adjustment on a cold winter’s day. The line at the post office didn’t seem nearly as annoying. And the crowds in Target didn’t seem nearly so nasty, I even noticed a couple of smiles as I walked down the aisles. That may have had something to do with the Mariah Carey Christmas on my Ipod… and the fact that I forget how loud I sing when I have my ear buds in. Or it could just be the Christmas spirit, who I am to say?
So now, attitude adjusted I am ready for Christmas a full week ahead of schedule. I am ready to soak it all in and revel in the holiday spirit. Tomorrow, my inner Grinch banished, I am going to bake holiday cookies until I run out of room in my kitchen (or I get sick of raw cookie dough, but I really think I will run out of space before that happens.) I am going to I am going to catch up with old friends and drink hot cocoa with my family. And if I feel my inner Scrooge trying to rear his ugly head, I will just drown him with peppermint schnapps. It’s seems like the Christmas-y thing to do.
a life just ordinary 