I’m not at all sad to see Christmas day come and gone. It always amuses me that I shop for months, spend hours of my life wrapping presents and sweat half day slaving away in a kitchen; all for the day to pass in a swift blur with nothing but some photographic evidence, a few garbage bags stuffed with ripped packaging and a closet full of plastic crap toys to show for it. All that and a headache too.
(Although, I confess, mine may have been well deserved and of the vino variety.)
Family gatherings and holidays in general still bring the tender hurt out in my heart. It’s hard not to be hyper-aware there is one little body, one small boy who isn’t taking up floor space, drooling on the hardwood and wondering when he will be able to get his hands on that empty box sitting in the corner.
Yet I found it distinctly difficult to sink into a maudlin funk as my four year old niece sat on my lap and tried to stuff a candy cane in my ear while I watched a roomful of other beloved children wiggle and giggle with Christmas excitement.
Like my favorite chocolate, Christmas will now and forever be bittersweet.
A balm to our wounded souls is our family knows how to have a good time. A good time which includes renting a city transit bus, stuffing it full of a dozen or more excited and noisy children, some slightly tipsy parents all holding their own personal thermos of magical Christmas elixir and going on a tour of the city to appreciate the season’s light show.
Picture a herd of small children running up and down the aisle, squealing with delight as the bus jostled down city streets as the cool older children sat at the back of the bus screeching out Christmas carols at the top of their lungs while we parents sat and tried to ignore them all.

Festive, and safe. The best type of Christmas there is.
(My ears are still ringing two days later.)
That was only the start of our Christmas celebrations. It got better from there.
(But never any quieter.)
A new holiday classic was created when Boo’s three year old nephew mistook Boo’s groin for a candy cane and nearly castrated my darling husband. Picture a pretty blonde boy hanging one inch to the left of Boo’s package while Boo tried to entice him off with sweets and swallow the dirty words that surely sprung to mind.
How I wished I had a camera in my hands at that moment.
Thankfully, no manhood or any parts thereof, where injured by the misguiding chomping of a sweet three year old’s pearly whites. Boo’s inner thigh now sports a nice set of teeth marks, but worst yet, his ego is slightly bruised by the fact we adults were much to busy laughing to offer sympathy (or help) during his time of crisis.
(In our defense, we may have been slightly tipsy.)
Then there was the traditional unwrapping of my thoughtfully wrapped packages on Christmas morning. It doesn’t get any better than watching your children’s eyes light up like a Christmas tree when they discover what was hidden underneath the ribbons and bows just for them.
I will never grow tired of that joy.
Toss in some magic moments when I kicked everybody’s butt in a game of Monopoly, and it turned out to be a Christmas I could really sink my teeth into. (Not that I’m competitive or bragging or any such thing…)
Boo had his moment too, as I was sadly robbed of victory. While I put in a good effort, I knew I was beat when I spied my professionally wrapped parcel. My cries of “Cheater!” fell on deaf ears when I ripped open the paper.
Suddenly I was distracted by gigabytes and hard drives. It’s always hard to admit defeat, but somehow stroking my shiny new laptop made it that much more bearable.
I have since called a moratorium on all adult gift giving. If I can’t win, I don’t want to play. Not to mention, at this price rate, soon we will be homeless and bankrupt.
Next year, we’re sticking to home made presents. I’m bound to win with all the crafty genes I inherited from my mother flowing through my veins.
Then again, like the season of Christmas itself, duct tape is a wonder.
I hope your Christmas was filled with as much joy and love as mine was.






Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 12:32
You got a Macbook Pro…I just got a Macbook. You must be taking care of business better than me.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 12:50
Glad you guys had a great Christmas.
And who cares if you lost the war – you got a fancy new Macbook…
Happy New Year!!
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 13:28
Hey, I thrashed everyone at Cluedo. We’d be a great board game tag-team T! Glad you had a lovely Xmas. What a great idea to hire the bus. That sounds like it was a lot of fun. As it is, I live next door to the most illuminated abode in the neighbourhood, so I don’t need to drive anywhere to see an abundance of Xmas lights. Anyway, wishing you and yours Happy Hogmanay! Oh, and enjoy your laptop. I have the same one, and absolutely love it! Shelly, over at This Eclectic Life just got one too. Did you have a Mac before, or are you having to make the adjustment from PCs?
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 13:43
Happy Holidays to you as well! I thought about you and your little Bug on Christmas and sent up some good vibes. It surely must be a conflicting set of emotions, but if anyone can make the best of day, whether it’s tough or not, it’s definitely you.
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 16:14
I am SO happy to hear you had a lovely day, despite the ever-present tinge of sadness in the background.
Lots of love to you T
XO
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 16:40
I’m only slightly jealous that you got a Macbook while I got a pair of extra-stretchable pants from Wal Mart and an address book.
Only slightly. Because if there’s one person I can think of who deserves to get spoiled and have a tipsy, merry Christmas, it’s you.
xo
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 18:40
I’m not even a Mac lover but I had to say “ooh, pretty”. Stroke it once for me, ‘kay? Heh.
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 19:10
The bus? What an awesome idea – I love your family.
And you are going to luuuuuuuuuuuurve your fancy schmancy new laptop, love it.
I’m glad you had a merry Christmas.
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 19:36
Ditto MB – I totally love the bus idea.
Merry Christmas, RNM.
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 20:32
Oooo! Congrats on the Macbook! I love mine. PS. I have been totally touched by your story of your bug (which led me to your blog). I’m so happy to hear you were able to honour his memory this Christmas by finding joy. ((Hugs))
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 20:54
Dude, you always make me cry.
Love to you this Christmas & totally jealous of the alcohol intake!
Hugs, Alli
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 21:42
Holy goodness, that is a sweeeet Christmas gift. Here I was salivating over my Kitchen Aid mixmaster (in pur-ty cherry red)…
The true question though – what was your gift to him?
(And I’d totally admit defeat over a MacBook. It would be worth it. Completely.)
Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 23:48
Good to know my family isn’t the only one that’s so large a bus is needed to haul them all around… although I don’t think I would, they don’t drink and are way to much to handle sober. I had eyebrows raising at my place for having wine at Christmas.
I’m glad you found some sweet to go with the bitter hun… *hugs*
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 0:45
Oh, I’m SO jealous of your new laptop. But, other than that…Happy Holidays and watch out for small children bearing sharp teeth! That bus ride sounded awesome.
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 6:27
I got a laptop too!!!!! I drooled over mine. Congrats.
I’m so glad you had a good time!!!
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 7:21
Oh my! A MacBook Pro. I’m drooling….all over the keys of my MacBook. I have Pro envy!!!
Glad your holidays were good. I’m sure the bittersweet quality brings some sadness…some remembrance. But it seems clear there was also lots of joy.
And lots of wine. LOL
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 8:48
Yeah, Boo will follow THAT rule. You’ll give him some handcrafted tie pin and he’ll present you with a brand new car.
Only you would think to rent a city bus. I wouldn’t have even thought that possible.
Glad to hear you survived Christmas!
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 10:16
I’m so jealous of the Macbook. Also, you can really branch out with variety as far as duct tape creations go. Camoflauge, hot pink, etc. There is a duct tape to please everyone. haha.
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 13:26
Since you’ve got that studly new laptop, I figure I’ll tag you for a meme – and I have. Unless you’re too wrapped up in duct tape or don’t do memes on a moral basis.
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 13:50
Oooh…I didn’t get a laptop but hubby did remember me drooling over one particular necklace several months ago and actually remembered and had it cleverly gift wrapped in a box the size of a small animal so I had no idea.
I think one of the best things is watching the excitement on the kids faces as they unwrap and enjoy their gifts. There is nothing like it.
So yes, Christmas was great for us and I’ll have to remember that bus thing…hubby does have 6 brothers and sisters…we’ll need something like that if we can all manage to get in one place on Christmas.
Have a safe , happy , New Year.
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 15:44
You must have been a good little elf this year – your Christmas sounds like a blast and I love those pics. Happy New Year, you crazy canuck!
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 16:51
Oh, if only you had had a camera! That would have a really funny (or really creepy) picture!
Friday, 28 December, 2007 at 17:35
The bus was the best idea ever! I’m jealoussss of your precioussssss.
No amount of fun and shiny things though, takes away the ache of missing your Bug. I’m so glad for the other’s sake, you make things so fun for them.
Saturday, 29 December, 2007 at 13:15
A Macbook Pro is a pretty nice condolence prize for losing!
Saturday, 29 December, 2007 at 14:11
Ah, you bitch! I got a bill for thyroid labwork for Christmas.
F*ck Santa, man.
Your pictures are AWESOME.
Merry Christmas, RM!
Saturday, 29 December, 2007 at 18:33
OMG the bus idea is FANTASTIC! I love that.
And, um, my mental image of your nephew trying to break off a piece of Boo’s South Pole is the best gift you could have given me. Seriously. Thanks.
Sunday, 30 December, 2007 at 10:21
oh, i could lose like you pretty happily.
and the bus idea is fabulous. glad there was love and joy, along with the bittersweetness.
Sunday, 30 December, 2007 at 11:57
You sound like my kind of gal..and my husband did well for me..new coats…
I love family although I’m always ready for a break by New Years Eve…we usually do nothing but veg out….
Happy New Years Eve and have fun…..be safe and success to your blog..I love it..
Dorothy from grammology
remember to call gram
http://grammology.com
Sunday, 30 December, 2007 at 17:35
Your pictures are great. It totally changes the images I have had in my mind about where you live. I was thinking it was more “cabin in the woods”. That aside, what was your gift to hubby?
Sunday, 30 December, 2007 at 20:28
Whoa – A bus??
Nice Macbook pro. I have one too and it rocks the casbah.
Sunday, 30 December, 2007 at 23:13
OOOH look at me with my hot husband and my laptop and my city bus…ooohhh I’m so SPECIAL…
heh.
Merry Christmas my love.
Monday, 31 December, 2007 at 1:31
You rented a city bus? That is the best Christmas celebration I’ve ever heard of! Y’all rock!
Have a Happy New Year!
Monday, 31 December, 2007 at 7:19
It’s official – Bossy is joining your family.
Monday, 31 December, 2007 at 7:43
You “Cyber Slut!” You have a great machine, and will now be cranking out blogs about your life in the frozen Tundra of Canada. My a lightening storm render your gigs to sand!
OK, I am still in the week of no posts to Santa, so that along with my “Nice Rack” comment is still safe until the pumpkin turns back to the evil eye of Sauron.
I am turning from the “Dark Side” and getting my wife a imac this spring. No more putting up with Gates Vista hell. Of course, my son who works for Navidia told me unless I get a pro version, which has a Geoforce by navidia, he wont help me with any more puter questions.
Great gift whore score.
Now all you need is DSL or cable modem since if I remember correctly, dont you have only dial up?
Monday, 31 December, 2007 at 10:04
Oh man..your Christmas sounds huge and excellent…
our family never got along enough for big gatherings..not since I was kid in Scotland.
Love the pond….hee
Monday, 31 December, 2007 at 10:55
A macbook!! Oh, how I envy thee.
I wants one SO bad, but I can’t convince myself that my iBook G4 is ready to kick the bucket. It’s only 3 years old, and still does the job, and I don’t want to hurt its feelings. Yet.