We have entered the Christmas squalor (TM Sasha Rubel) phase now. And it feels delightful. Owen is upstairs doing who knows what, Leo is, what else?.... working on Lego. Ernie and I are watching a movie called Icetastrophe. Yeah, it's that kind of day. Later we'll cook dinner but given that there is Lego spread out over the dining room table it's fair to say it will be a casual meal.
Yesterday we did some baking (some partial fails, but nothing fully failed) and present wrapping. Owen took off with Sue and Leo was doing his computer stuff. Ernie and I went by Fries and Peanuts for a Christmas Eve free drink and the company of friends. We hung out with Teri and Brian and saw a million people we knew. There is nothing that brings home the feeling of community more than late Christmas Eve there. Lynn Muhlenhaupt was like a little factory at her table, assembling bags of incredible treats to hand out to folks. Thanks Lynn! One of my favorite families, the Easts, stopped by with ribbon candy (!) and treats. I got kisses and hugs from tons of people I love and then to top it off, I saw one of my favorite humans, Carol McCabe. It was pretty much a perfect time.
We pulled up to the house and Sue had just dropped Owen off was still in her truck....we chatted a minute and I said, "Oh, come on in." So I started walking toward the house and heard a crunching sound. I turned around and there was a car in the middle of the street and Sue said, "that was my truck." I automatically, "oh, no, surely not" but uh, yeah. A car had tried to back up to turn around because of our weird street and backed right into her truck. It all kind of went downhill from there...police were called. A mess....I felt SO bad and helpless. When we went in the house I saw Owen's present that they had driven to Springfield to pick up. A painting of a photo he took of his shoes in front of his vintage speakers. It's by Jeff Curtis Williams, an artists and lead singer of the band Nil8. It's pretty fantastic. Owen is thrilled and I am beyond touched. Our beloved Sue. I stole Sue's picture....
We tried to recapture the evening, despite feeling so bad for Sue. The boys exchanged their gifts and both were delighted with them. They disappeared to their rooms and we commenced to finishing wrapping. We gave the boys one last chance to come downstairs and then told them it was off limits. We ate a bit of tourtiere and watched the end of It's a Wonderful Life. Pretty damn nice.
I tossed and turned all night. You'd think I was the one expecting gifts. I heard someone get up to go to the bathroom at one point. I thought it was getting toward morning soI hesitated, but then got up to use the bathroom too. I crawled back under the covers only to hear another door. "Uh oh," I said. Ernie asked me why I said that and I said, "because I bet that was Owen." We tried to lie quietly but then we heard Rascal meowing to Owen and Owen talking back to him....into our room they came, Owen whispering, "Uh ,you guys, it's only 4:30 but just so you know, I'm ready any time...I'm just looking at my phone." We thanked him for his thoughtfulness and said, "another hour honey." Ernie got up around 5:00 damn him and so of course Owen padded into our room, and said hopefully, "Mom? Dad went downstairs." I told him 5:30 again and he sagged with disappointment. Ernie came and got me at 5:30 and said it was time, so downstairs we trudged.
Man. I love those boys. They are the best guys in the world and they are so appreciative of what we do. Merry Christmas to all. Merry, Merry Christmas.