And all through the house…. Ah, that oh, so familiar poem we all know and love. Yeah, yeah, I know it was the “night” before Christmas, but here I am the week before, you know what. I’ve often said that the pagans have taken over the holiday, but this year I’m not so sure. More people are saying “Merry Christmas” at the cash register and our waiter even wrote it on the bottom of our check at the restaurant. And, on an episode of “Bones,” they even mentioned “Jesus” and “Christmas” in the same sentence. Amazing!
Of course, we still have Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-nosed reindeer, but for the first time in a long time we also have Jesus, the babe in the manger popping up everywhere. I’ve even seen some mangers on town greens and some of our Christmas cards say “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays.” It warms my heart and actually puts me more in the frame of mind to really enjoy the day as I haven’t done for years.
So, twas the week before….and, I’ve sent all of my cards, our Christmas letter is done and sent, and all but a handful of gifts are already wrapped and under the tree. Our tree was up by December 4th, an exceptionally early record this year. I’ve even listened to about ten hours of wonderful Christmas carols and other seasonal little ditties! We even endured bitter cold weather to attend a Lessons and Carols service in the unheated 1771 Old Christ Church. I can honestly say that I have a modicum of joy in my heart and I am actually happily anticipating Christmas day with friends and family and our traditional prime rib roast and yummy Yorkshire pudding!
My DD #2 and I engaged in a mother/daughter cookie/brownie bake off for the holidays. It was rather hysterical as we over measured sugar, forgot the oil, made way too big cookies, produced overly chewy brownies and learned NOT to use Splenda® in brownies. My attempt to make a batch of some lo-sugar goodies turned into a pan of very unattractive, brown, cardboard, flat, definitely not tasty somethings. They were not worthy of the name “Brownie.”
And, today it snowed here in slower, lower, middle of nowhere, southern Delaware. It’s not quite Christmas, but I could watch the snowflakes blanket the world outside my window and imagine that it was. Twas the week before Christmas and I can’t wait for Santa to deliver the gifts, Rudolph to dance on my roof, Frosty to wink and send me a kiss from the backyard, and for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday to begin! Bring it on!