Unexpectedly, this Christmas ended up being pretty great. We had a wonderful dinner party at my parents-in-laws’ house on the 23rd, where I got to spend lots of time with my niece and nephew and had the fun of watching them get super excited about everything. We hosted my parents for dinner on Christmas Eve, and husband and I had a quiet Christmas Day at home that involved tamales for breakfast, an afternoon nap, and a viewing of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
I resisted all friends’ attempts to get me to bulk up their church choirs on Christmas Eve (I’m an atheist who loves Christmas carols but there are limits), avoided most shopping, and only baked the goodies that I liked most (fruitcake, Italian 7-layer bars, Mexican wedding cookies). I listened to the live broadcast of Lessons and Carols from King’s College on Christmas Eve morning. We didn’t send out cards or hang up outdoor lights. I wish all Christmases could be like this one.