Christmas' of Yore

It's times like these, in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, that one likes to reflect. (when am I not reflecting? I am the Queen Of Reflecting. Or as Rachael calls me--A Bleeding Heart)

I recall a Christmas--perhaps the last one that I believed in Santa--that my dad put some red felty fuzz stuff (you know, the stuff Santa's suit is made out of) on the gate of our fire place, to make it look like Santa snagged his pants on the out of the chimney. When I went to bed that night, I was woken up by a bell ringing outside of my house (obviously Santa's sleigh!), which come to find out was my dad ringing a little bell outside my window.
Despite the magic of this night being squashed by a later realization that Santa was just some fat man who needed to make a couple of extra bucks during the holiday's, this is a fond memory that I am sure I will never forget.
And then there was that one year that I got a walkman (finally!)for Christmas and popped in the ol' New Kids on the Block cassette tape and ran around my couch in the living room for hours.
And THEN, there was that one Christmas that my whole family got together (back in the day, in my Washington state days) and we walked down the street to my Great Uncles house to bring him some food and some Christmas cheer. This elderly uncle had become sort of a recluse in those recent years and we never saw him. We walked to the door of his old, somewhat creepy house, and gave him so grub. He wasn't friendly and wasn't in the holiday spirit, but it was nice to see him anyway.

This year I have been procrastinating my Christmas shopping. I haven't even popped in one Christmas c.d. (for shame!!!!)--not even the Chipmunks Christmas cassette that is somewhat melted from a hot car ride back in 1992.

I do have a bunch to be grateful for. Lots of great friends, family, and a really great guy.

This weekend I will start buying some gifts for all of my peeps. I have to mail the packages to Salt Lake this year, which will be different.