To my surprise, I was the first person up on Christmas Day. I fixed breakfast: Egg McChrisses for everyone and croissants, coffee for me and Naomi. Sufficient calories for the unwrapping to come.
Despite their pre-teen and confirmed-teen maturity, the Rising Daughters™ squealed like anklebiters and showed real enthusiasm for the Christmas stocking stuffers. Our colorful Xmas tree with ample presents underneath were further fuel for their antics. We distributed the presents in turn, as always, and joked around. Traditional Christmas music in the background came courtesy of the "Best Christmas Album in the World…Ever!" discs 1 and 2, which I had converted to digital--it's really all we need. Post-unwrapping, Lady E. and M. policed up the wrapping paper efficiently. Once that was done, we inspected our new things and gift cards. Then, relaxation time.
Before noon, we had a virtual family meetup with Dad and the crew back home. Lots of snow over there this year. Twelve degrees and sunny here…so Naomi and I went for a scooter ride to get some fresh air.
After returning home, I stormed into the potato and carrot peeling, gravy making, and prepping the roast chicken. I had even bought a special, "super cheesy" Christmas-themed tablecloth. Soon, it was dark outside and that meant Christmas Feast time. The prep and execution was good; the food and the family each did their part. Hunger and harmony aligned into a splendid evening of family time, some hijinks at the table, and basking in the moment.
In
the early hours of Boxing Day, I had a second virtual family Christmas confab
with the extended kinfolk back home. I was far groggier due to the perils of
distant zone perils and on account of the grog I'd been imbibing earlier that
evening.
###
