16 December 2001
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I think I've finally finished up my Christmas shopping. I woke up pretty early yesterday and got to the mall 30 minutes after it opened and it was smooth sailing. Thanks to all the mail-outs and friends and family cards, I've gotten some really good deals. (I got four sweaters at J.Crew for 100ish bucks. $100!) Although I am stumped on what to get my brother's girlfriend. Stumped, I say. If anyone has any suggestions for a 29-year-old that I don't know very well, you know, give me a shout. My mom actually picked out her own gift. We were looking at jewelry at Nordstrom and she found a bracelet she liked. I told her she had to act surprised. This is pretty boring, I know. I took photos of my tree right after I put it up (two weeks ago), but I have yet to get them developed. Maybe you'll get a chance to see my decked apartment before the 25th but I wouldn't hold your breath. But my tree is gorgeous; probably the prettiest one I've ever had. It's a little lonely having no one to share it with, but that's okay. I enjoy having it, and this time, just for me, because in about four days my holiday season is going to get quite hectic. A friend gets into town late on Friday night and then we're driving to Pittsburgh on the 22nd to see his family. I'm pretty excited, as I've never been there before. I have to admit though that my prejudices aren't favorable. I mean, it's Pittsburgh, right? Doesn't it fall under Cleveland in the industrial-towns-to-make-fun-of file? I know it's not full of steel factories anymore, but I just imagine that the haze lingers on. Although I've been told that's no longer the case. So we'll see. I drive back to my mom's on the 24th, making sure I get there in time for the giant family gathering that occurs at our house on Christmas Eve. Then my dad comes into town either the afternoon of the 25th or the next morning. My dad, G and I will have our gift exchange and lunch on the 26th before my brother goes back to Chicago. (I actually have to work on the 27th and 28th. Can you imagine?) That weekend my friend will come back from Pennsylvania and we'll head to Atlanta at the crack of dawn on the 30th. Ever since my parents split I've had to adjust to the Christmas shuffle. After my dad moved out my mom, brother and I settled into a nice routine, and established some new traditions for just the three of us. When my mom got remarried in 1996, everything changed again. I'd be a liar if I said Christmas that year wasn't hard on me, since it was actually wrenching. Everything was different and even though I was 20, it tough. I wanted to scream - "But we open presents in our pajamas!" and "We do our stockings FIRST!" I hated it, but then one night, either that holiday or the next, my mom basically told me that I was an adult now and that I just needed to deal with it; essentially that Santa didn't exist and this was the way Christmas was and I'd have to wait until I had my own family to make things the way I wanted them. That was tough to hear, but she was right. I'm a pretty controlling person and when things get shuffled around and uprooted, it can be disconcerting. To be honest, I'm still not used to it. And it just gets more complicated every year. My stepbrothers got married, G started including his girlfriend, the Little Peep was born, and for the first time ever I'm not getting to my mom's till Christmas Eve. And for the first time in what seems like forever, I actually have New Year's plans. I haven't seen T since my Vegas birthday celebration in June and I haven't seen her fiancé, C, since before he was even officially her boyfriend. I haven't seen Chris or Allison since South by Southwest. I just can't think of a better way to ring in 2002. (Unless it was full on MATH+1 gathering, but alas, that wasn't in the stars.) We'll probably just sit around and eat cheese, but that's fine by me. There will probably also be a Great Camel Lights Smoke-Out-A-Thon, since word on the street is that there might be some quitting going on. I'm just giving you my itinerary, aren't I? You don't care. But see, this way you can be thinking of me when you're all snuggled in front of your fire and I'm driving across the greater Southeastern United States. Here's to hoping your egg nog is spicy, your tree is twinkling, your mistletoe is kiss-inducing and all your Santa wishes come true. Merry Christmas, y'all. The notify wishes you a Happy 2002.
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