December 1, 2003
I Should Think That One Would Pick White Lights Over Colored

Thanksgiving morning I woke up and down the hall, outside the black fireplace gate that keeps the dog away from the cats, the said dog was waiting. And about her neck was tied a red scarf with, if I remember correctly, tiny green Christmas trees. "Don't we look beautiful!" I said to her.

At the Thanksgiving football game later that day, word was sent around that I don't like Thanksgiving and I don't like pie. I don't know why I said it because I've never particularly hated Thanksgiving (save in 2001 when no one informed me that we were eating so I was left out and ate by myself, but no one probably remembers that except Maxine who brings it up a lot). And no, I don't like pie so whatever. I felt bad later, when I enjoyed it, and usually do enjoy it. Who knows.

Thanksgiving at Uncle Richard's house was where I ate. Manda and I watched the Michael Jackson interview and Home Alone, then Geoff made terribly offensive jokes. We've all outgrown the kids' table so it was cramped. At 4:30 we headed off to Auntie Maureen's for post-Thanksgiving, one might call it. Most of us argued about Survivor, and Mom, Dave, and I played Squares.

All my life, Dad's side of the family has done Secret Santa. At Thanksgiving dinner one takes his or her Post-It, write his or her name and what he or she would like. Names are drawn, and then the Christmas shopping begins. I've always enjoyed watching it for whatever reason. In 2001 (again, the Thanksgiving I particularly hated) they changed it to Yankee Swap. As you can imagine, I was greatly unsettled. I may or may not have expressed my objection to the idea but if I did they paid no attention. Dad brought a coin sorting machine. Mom doesn't remember what she bought. Auntie Maureen brought a very nice umbrella. Numbers were drawn, and the swapping took place. At the end of it, Dave took the wine that my mom initially had. I think Maureen gave something extra to whoever ended up with the umbrella. Maria or someone got a food basket. Dad took his coin sorter back because no one wanted it. By Thanksgiving of 2002 I told them all, "Do not do a Yankee Swap again. I know I have no part in this but do not do the Yankee Swap again." They didn't.

But this year. This is the year, my friends. Very casually someone asked, "So Patrick and Molly are in this too, right?" Finally, after 15 years of watching and anticipating, I have been inducted into the Secret Santa Society. I wrote everyone's names on the papers. People like my handwriting all the sudden. I wrote on mine "Molly gift certificate to Borders Books." Dave wanted a shirt, but not a dress shirt. We brainstormed all the different ways one can spell the shortened version of casual. Not cash because it's not pronounced right. I suggested casch but now it doesn't look right. He decided on cazh. Sporty-cazh. I am Renay's Secret Santa, but she wasn't there that night. I would have to wait until Sunday to find out what she wanted.

Friday, after sitting around for hours playing 3D pinball, we went and got our Christmas tree. We don't normally get it so early; usually the first week of December. But Patrick won't be home for a while, and my parents are on vacation next weekend, and too much is going on. Blitzen's Christmas Tree Farm used to be just down the road from us so we'd be there and back in no time. The place was huge and I remember good trees. But maybe five years ago they closed, so since then we've been going to some other Christmas tree farm by Plymouth North. Pat and I walked around searching for a fat tree--we like fat trees. One of the football players tied it to the roof of the car. I told mom not to get colored lights this year. Pat said it was a good choice--too tacky. I said it was too commercial. So I think we're all happy with the white lights. We proceeded to tell the story of every ornament.

Sunday we went to a Christmas party. I know, it was only the thirtieth of November. But Pam and Todd won't be up at Christmas time, so we had a party with them while they were here. Aunt Kathe had the best Christmas tree I've ever seen. Her house has very high ceilings so it was maybe ten feet high. No I'm just kidding I have no idea how tall it was. But it had white lights, and Peanuts ornaments and these fragile glass orbs, and I think my mom has one, in which case, they are blown glass. How does one put that? Blown glass? Yeah I guess so. There were no pine needles on the floor.

I was going to write more but my attention is waning. This better be a good Christmas, that's all I'm saying.

- Molly{5:44 pm}

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