Ten days later, it’s Christmas, everyone else is asleep and I really should be too, and I’m finally getting around to blogging again.
The holidays have been interesting this year. The old routine doesn’t exist any more, mostly because people have gotten married (or in my case, in a Serious Relationship) and are feeling tugs between two sets of older-generations. For example, even though I am in Texas to visit my parents for a little more than a week, I miss Jeff, and I know that his family would have been more than happy for me to stay with them. Ralph and Lori are staying in Pittsburgh, being prevented by product deadlines at Ralph’s work, and my cousin Allison has spent Christmas Day with her new husband’s family. Even Grandmama, in her nursing home, is frail enough of mind that we visit her in no more than pairs, for fear of overwhelming her. My parents probably feel like the house is full with me here, but to me it is quiet, empty, and boring.
Like last Christmas, today I felt ashamed of my gifts; I felt that they were not good enough. My parents assured me that they were, and when we got to opening presents and I saw the beautiful wooden bowl and knitting needle holder that they had each made for me, I felt much better. I wish that my father’s potholder and my mother’s socks were finished, but they didn’t mind, and next year I will start making Christmas presents in January.
Gatherings with extended family have been happier. Today my parents and I had a lovely dinner with Aunt Frances, Uncle Elliott, and my cousin Adam. (No presents; that will come tomorrow, with Allison and Brian.) On Tuesday, my cousin Ruth and her husband and three children came for dinner, which was very fun. Dad had let me pick out the books for the children, since I had taken a children’s materials course, and I hope that I chose well. I also chose a couple of books for my cousin Kate, books that are among my favorites, and I hope that Kate will enjoy them as much as I do. (Dad picked out the book for Kate’s brother Tom.)
The day before I was to fly to Texas, Jeff and I went to Olympia in the hopes that it would make his mother feel a little bit better about losing me on Christmas proper. She insisted that I open my presents that night, so I did, though I made others open the presents that I had for them, because I didn’t want to be the only one opening things. I was quite blown away by their presents. Charlie gave me a box of his favorite herbal tea and a lovely tea set to go with it. (The tea set included a teapot, two cups, and a tray). Jeff’s mother gave me a tote for my knitting, a book called Weekend Knitting with many lovely creative patterns, a gift certificate to Weaving Works (my yarn store in Seattle), and a bit of cash for food or lingerie, whichever works.
Maybe I should remind them that I don’t need to be bribed into their family?
It’s been a nice Christmas. I only wish that we could get the whole family together at once.
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