Every year we have all the family in for a Christmas Eve dinner which includes my homemade crab cakes and my husband’s prime rib. And some lovely bottles of wine.There are all my adult children, parents, even an ex-wife and the grandchildren! The noise and dishes and mess! All is chaos and caphony….It is the best night of the year as all my loved ones are gathered around me.
I’ve said goodnight and Merry Christmas at least a hundred times as one by one, they have filed out the door. Admonished all to be careful and watch for ice and to call when they get home.
The dishes are piled in the sink the trash is full and the dog looks sick; might be all those scraps the kids snuck her under the table.
I still have to make the stuffing for the turkey we’ll have tomorrow and sort all those dishes and maybe a quick mop of the floors. It will be a late night, but we’ve had many late nights on Christmas Eve, my husband and I, wrapping gifts and putting together various toys or bikes. I was younger then.
There will be no little kids jumping on my bed and yelling, “Get up, Santa Claus came!” Those days are long gone but as the kids have grown up, we have developed new traditions.
But as much as things change, there remains enduring love and gratitude that we have each other. I don’t need a special day of the year to recognize that, but I am happy for this season in the dark dreary dead of winter to enjoy good company and all the pretty lights.
And I want to wish all my fellow Zoners and Swash Zone visitors a very Merry Christmas if you celebrate it, if not, I wish you a safe and peaceful evening.
Peace! Rocky
Your evening with family sounds delightful, Rocky. Merry Christmas to you too.
ReplyDeleteBTW, you have an ex-wife? The more we know...
Thank you, Elizabeth and no, I don't have an ex, my husband does. We had the kids from that marriage living with us from a very young age but their mother has come back into their lives in their adulthood and now she is included in our holiday celebrations.
ReplyDeleteI know, it is kind of weird but since their marriage ended before I came on the scene there has been little animosity between us.
Your story brings back all kinds of warm memories. We had our dinner on Christmas Eve and then ate leftovers the next day, so no one had to be in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI'd trade a turkey for crab cakes any day.
Hope you and yours have a peaceful and cheerful holidaY.
Your faithful mudsquiggle takes a break from the unwrapped chaos of Fishmas to wish all my extended family here at the Zone a very happy and healthy holiday.
ReplyDeleteOh dear - you called it a holiday. Now you're in for it.
ReplyDeleteI have all kinds of warm memories - and cold ones - and no, since I don't have small children, all is different, but everything always is every time it happens, and despite the e-mails I deleted this morning, we're still free to have the kind of Christmas we like -- or not to -- and to define our families as we like, including whom we will, when we want to.
Confusion to those who make their beliefs a boast and a bludgeon and threaten those of us with our own ideas. To the rest of us, whether our Christmas is coffee and oranges on a sunlit patio or huddled with eggnog before a crackling fire -- peace -- if not on Earth, then in your hearts.
Merry Christmas to all. Being a lifelong bachelor I have spent a lot of Christmas Eves and Christmas Days in the company of my best friend--me. I got a late invite to a friend's house last evening. It was perfect, good food, plenty of beers and wines to choose from, a few adults and lots of shrieking young kids--just like being with my faraway nieces and nephews and their broods.
ReplyDeleteI spent much of today lolling about and part of it stuffing insulation into the walls. It was a calm and generally restful day. Tonight a band of fine young musicians is having a CD release party at a local pub. I will go drink a few brews, toast the memory of my brother and a friend's brother, take some photos of the band and call it a fine evening.
Crab cakes. I'll be there next year!
Wishing everyone a fine and peaceful holiday straight from the Jurassic, where and when, as always, it's rather too balmy for building snowmen and lighting the fireplace. But we make do.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, you can come with democommie for Christmas Eve crab cakes any year you want!
ReplyDeleteFogg - I hope you had a lovely day, whatever you are celebrating, or not.
bloggingdino - we have had so much snow and cold weather, I would gladly trade you for some balmy weather. Actually, I'm having to put up with daily emails from my sister in law from Hawaii where they are spending Christmas!
I cooked and ate lots of good things and had fun opening gifts and now I'm tired but happy.
I think it's time to be off to bed and so I'll wish you all a Merry Christmas and to all, a good night!
I try always to be celebrating!
ReplyDelete