MERRY FUCKING CHRISTMAS

Well, Christmas this year just won't be the same.

For the past 4 years Andrew's parents, Randy and Laura have traveled from Minnesota and most recently, from their new home in Washington state, to Iowa to spend Christmas at our house. Monica, his sister has also traveled each year from her home in New Jersey. Christmas, for Andrew's family is laden with holiday cheer, much merriment, an embarassing amount of gifts, and most important,
tradition...and you'd better not fuck with it!

Yes, the details are discussed, hashed over, and diplomatically agreed upon by all, weeks in advance...then, Laura decides what we do and eat.
Seriously, the meals are all planned out, the groceries are purchased and then, for the next 4 days, we eat. When I say "eat", you have no idea. Laura is a cook like no other. I swear, when she is in the kitchen cooking, she waits for the exact moment when no one else is looking, and at that very moment, she tosses in the magic ingredient. Who knows what it is, but it's to die for.
Andrew follows closely and almost has it down. It must be a family secret.

This year, sadly, we are not all getting together. Randy and Laura are very busy with their new restaurant venture on Lummii Island, where they live and, understandably, would really like to spend a Christmas in their beautiful new home on the island. Unfortunatly, Andrew's work schedule and my need to be here, where my two children are, will keep us at home over the holiday.

There is nothing better than watching the kids, Jeremy and Robin, open their gifts and seeing the sparkle in their eyes when they realize that Dad didn't forget what they really wanted.
They have also come to love spending time with Randy, Laura and Monica. Robin still talks about last year when she got to cook with Laura. She learned so much. That girl's brain is like a sponge!

There is such a contrast between Chirstmas Eve here with Andrew's family and Christmas Day with my family. Christmas Eve here at home with Andrew's small family is all about sharing good wine, "holiday punch", fine food and great conversation about Christmases past and future. My Mom is at the height of glory on Christmas Day with all four of her children and all seven grandchildren together at once in their huge 16'x30' livingroom full of screaming kids and knee deep in gift wrap that was ripped from 325 gifts within about 15 minutes. However, the unconditional love that radiates from both of my parents, out to everyone in the room makes the whole chaotic day worth every single minute.

We comprimised this year. Andrew will be here at home through Christmas Day and fly out to Seattle on the 26th to spend a few days with his family. I'm sure their celebration, although a few days later this year, will play out just as it has for the past 4 years that I have been a part of it. The food will be plentiful and fit for a king, the wine and "holiday punch" will flow freely, Monica will end up some time during the gift exchange with a gift bow on her head and I'm sure there will be a few evenings spent in the hot tub out on the deck with amazing views of the North Pacific. At some point, someone will say something that offends and that will erupt into a rather brief argument where a few minor, but hurtful things will be said and then one of them will turn to the rest of the group and exclaim in a disgusted voice, "MERRY FUCKING CHRISTMAS!"

I'm really going to miss Christmas with Andrew's family this year.