Don't get me wrong I truly enjoy the actual day, I cook, everything, the poor dead animal bits, the veggies, make my own stuffing...everything - I even make a Clootie Dumpling (look it up if/as needed, pan fried in butter next day raises it to another level!)) ...the offspring arrive, complete with their own offspring, we over-wassail, eat, laugh, talk far too loudly to and over each other, laugh again even more loudly at comments and weak jokes which would on most other days get a chuckle at best.
We run after the wee ones as they threaten to impale themselves on the jaggy bits of the Christmas trees or fall down the stairs or run into blunt objects, but now... they are slowing, the adrenaline recedes, the sugars are abating, their faces are pink, bits of food stuck here and there and they giggle and try desperately to stay awake ...presents are long forgotten, memories are being made.
The fire is typically going, grog has been consumed and the tryptophan and is kicking in - the small people are softly snuggling into their owners, things get quieter, we tuck them in as needed and repair to indulge in mindless talk about politics, finance, the state of the world in general and ours in particular but no voices are raised, we are at ease with ourselves, with each other.
This is and will be my Christmas, I hope it is equally good for you.
Thank you for allowing me to wander across your forum, contributing little but learning much.
god bless you all.
