I am listening to a CD called Raising Sand, which is a
collaboration between Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. I really like the first
track, Rich Woman, which is pretty much straight-ahead blues. I’m not a huge
Robert Plant fan, but I like Allison Krauss. She has a pure soprano that
reminds me of a young Judy Collins. It’s so rare that I get a new CD because it’s a real treat to find something new that I like.
Michael got me up a little before 8, and we headed downstairs to
open presents. Mother got her coffee and I got my tea, and the paper and box
destruction began. We were at it for a while. We take turns opening gifts and
discussing each gift, at least for a minute. Both the kids were tickled with
the various high-tech gifts – Michael’s long anticipated Nintendo and Alesia’s
new MP3 player. She also got a combination hair dryer straightener. I got
several books I wanted, the CD, and a completely new outfit from Mother, plus a
new jacket.
I got a new video camera
but I have not had time to sit down and figure it out. I hope I can get that
done in the next few days. Both kids got new digital cameras from Uncle Bruce,
and they were tickled. [I was the purchasing agent.] Michael is already adept
at catching me in shots looking elephantine and hideous.
Lesleigh, my cousin, came over at lunchtime, and hung out with us
the rest of the day. We took the kids to see the new Adam Sandler movie,
Bedtime Stories. I thought it was cute but I slept quietly through the most
exciting part. I wasn’t sitting by Alesia so I didn’t get elbowed in the ribs.
I really wanted to see the new movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but
it is 2 hours and 48 minutes and I didn’t want to leave Mother that long.
Mother was great at setting aside her grief and helping us have a
happy day, although she was still in shock and grieving. I just kept thinking
about my aunt and uncle and trying not to think about going in their house in
Myrtle Beach. My uncle built that house almost 50 years ago, and it was so much
a part of them that I cannot imagine them not there.
We had a good dinner, turkey and dressing and squash casserole,
and Marie Callendar yeast rolls. I screwed up the gravy. It never got thick
enough. I was talking to Lesleigh and not thinking what I was doing – at least
that’s my excuse. I think Les was startled by the tiny turkey breast in the
slow cooker. We poach our turkeys.
Bruce sent a bunch of photos, including one of him serving turkey
to the enlisted men. It’s a tradition, officers serving the men on holidays.
Looks like they had a good celebration, with one guy dressed up like Santa, a
Christmas tree, etc. Bruce serving turkey is ironic – he doesn’t like it. Here he is, below. Looks like he's practicing to be a proctologist...
Mother and Les and I watched a movie I got for Christmas, Charlie
Wilson’s War. It’s such an intelligent, excellent film. I highly recommend it.
Not for kids, though. They were in my room watching Hancock.
I took a bunch of photos but I couldn’t download them into Picasa
for some unknown reason, so I don’t know when I can post them.
When we were opening presents, at one point Michael just smiled
happily and said “This is heaven!” Tonight after dinner Alesia came up and
spontaneously hugged me. Those were the moments that made my Christmas.
