ME-me-me-merry Chr-chr-christmas

Listened to Porky Pig's version of 'I'll Have a Blue Christmas Without You' last night, hysterical. R and I made it smooth sailing to Waco, with a small detour through Navasota, because I never pay attention to how to get there (he or Jim always direct me) and we were talking so R didn't notice that I had driven too far. It added about ten minutes to the trip.

Steve and Sharon (R's cousin and wife) came over to Edie and John's and we had steak and baked potatoes and everyone ate too much. Steve had ordered mushrooms with his steak recently and Edie thought it would be good to serve some, so we winged it slicing them and sauteing (sp?) them in butter and salt and pepper and they were most delicious. R was itching to open presents, just like a youngster, and the presents spilled out from under the Christmas bush in all directions. I took a picture of the bush but don't have the ability to download it here, so maybe later. Sharon played Santa and we all opened out gifts. We were missing Jim and his laughter. It was all fun and games and as usual over quickly.

This holiday is really for kids in a way. Growing up Santa left so much under the tree that before any neighbor kids came over Mom would make us put half of it away. Dad got carried away during those years and Mom knew we got more than most kids. We could never figure out where Santa kept all those toys, bikes and ping pong tables. We later found out they were in the store room at Dad's clinic. Although there were a few times when we did find some gifts hidden, the moon goon dolls we found in Mom's closet...when they didn't appear Christmas morning we subtly hinted 'I wish I had gotten a blue moon goon with green hair'. The gig was up as Mom went to the closet and retrieved them, a smirk on her face. I don't remember looking for hidden stuff after that. The later year Christmases were not so jovial. Tensions at home and we kids growing older changed the whole mood. Bud, Babe and I would cut out right after the present thing. Thinking back this must have disappointed Mom as she was left at home with Dad and things between them were no longer easy. There is a certain disappointment after the kid Christmas years are over, but I have taken to enjoying a different kind of holiday. Gratitude is my daily gift for living a sober life.

I took special delight today sitting here in 'my room' reading my daily meditations. It is something I can take with me wherever I am.

Edie got a book by Tammy Faye (Baker) Messner, 'I Will Survive...and You Will Too' which is full of the funniest quotes. Here is my favorite...God answers kneemail.