So today I’m determined
to do a post and share some thoughts. I’m sure Y’all have been waiting with
true excitement for this…Winky. Wink.
It’s Christmas Eve Eve.
My Sweet Husband (MSH) and I went to town this morning to get an Egg McMuffin
and tackle Hellmart. We’ve learned, in our old age, that if you go to Walmart
fairly early in the day, like before 9:00, you shouldn’t have the crazy crowds. I’m not
talking about tomorrow, though. It will be N.U.T.S. Or Black Friday. I just
mean, in general, Early Birds can beat the certain daily chaos. We didn’t need much. And
we didn’t run into sixteen peeps we haven’t seen in two or three years—like we
usually do! We stayed about thirty-ish minutes and then came back to our
country casa—ready to love the G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. weather we’re having in North
Central Texas. Actually, it could reach 80 degrees this afternoon. Even to us
(we? I don’t know grammar any more…) Texans that is a ridiculous Christmas temp. Yikes.
Mostly this has been a
fairly laidback, easy December. I love that! We’ll go to TLC’s on
Friday morning. Little Leighton is extra-excited about Santa this year. (You
also can tell her she better “watch out” and better “not cry”—which makes me
feel a teensy bit guilty. Like it did when I used it on TLC. I guess whatever
works. We’ll deal with the lies later!) We’ll enjoy the sharing of her Santa loot, open
gifts, eat TLC’s fantastic cooking and laugh. (Even Baby
Leighton has a few gifts wrapped up and she’s not even here yet!)
{By The Way: I need
to clarify something about Baby Leighton. Her middle name is not going to be
Leighton! She’ll be named after her paternal grandmother who, sadly, passed
away when TLC’s Hubby was eighteen. From henceforth I shall refer to Baby
Leighton as Baby Elle. (That is, if I can remember…apparently she’ll always be
Baby Leighton to moi.) Hopefully, Baby Elle won’t be too disappointed when she
realizes she doesn’t have the same middle name as me, TLC and Little Leighton. (It was Little Leighton's and Baby Elle's maternal great-great grandmother's maiden name.) We plan to tell Baby Elle she's SUPER
SPECIAL. That she’ll be The Leightons’ Official Mascot!
Three-ish more months until Her Royal Highness' Arrival. Wow.}
Gifts: MSH and I have been at that point in our
relationship/marriage/life together (going on 39 years) where we need nothing from each other.
NOTHING. Yet, every year, we come up with two to three gifts we THINK the other
will get-a-kick-out-of/enjoy. TLC is often immensely involved with this
process. In fact, for the past four or five years, she even orders our gifts
for us. Wraps them! Delivers them. (She does not, however, pay for them. Sheesh.) Then
pretends, when she sees them on Christmas Day, she’s happily surprised at our creativity. In
actuality, My Sweet Hubby gives me the most cherished gifts all the time. He
cooks for me. He helps me clean. He runs errands for me. He plants beautiful
flowers for me. He picks up medicine. Last week, he took our vacuum outside to
the garage and cleaned the inside of my car. Every little piece of dust, dirt,
food, paper, etc. Gone. Sucked up. He wiped off my dashboard and cleaned my
windows. He might as well have bought me a 5-carat diamond ring. I was that
thrilled!
What are my gifts to him?
I drive him to the ER when he has a heart attack or gets bit by a copperhead
snake. I’ve been his “at home” secretary for many, many years. Even though he
retired three years ago, I’m still his personal assistant. I accompany him to doctors’
appointments. Remind him of important dates (children’s and grandchildren’s
birthdays, etc.). Pay our bills. Pick up the food he cooks for us! Clean our commodes and do all laundry (Two
chores he DESPISES. He just can’t quite make himself volunteer to do these
things.) Our love, loyalty and devotion to each other is, I believe, our gifts
to each other. (Don't get me wrong. We quite frequently annoy each other. We do. But we can't imagine our life without the other one in it. Truly.) We don’t really need Christmas, birthdays or other holidays to
tell each other how much we care…how secure we make each other feel. Still…with
TLC involved? Christmas is always innerstin. Trust me.
Not sure if Y’all have
noticed: Our world is a hot mess. Scary stuff everywhere. Every hour of every
day. Makes me sad. Makes my heart ache for peace. Safety. Hope. Tolerance. GOD
and Jesus Christ. But I’m sending out a prayer—to Our Dear Lord Almighty—that each of you has a merry, happy, lovely, MAGICAL
Christmas Celebration…Wherever in the World you are! (If we’re alive and
breathing, we’re blessed, wouldn’t you agree?)
mistletoe Smooches
and holiday Hugs!
