Too much food, too much of everything.

Family drama wasn’t as high as in previous years, though still higher than average.

Note: we do basically ALL of our Christmas celebrating on Christmas Eve. The big dinner, the breaking of the bread and wishes for the new year, the opening of gifts, etc.

My father was grumpy because he got gifts after specifically saying (though I never heard it) that he didn’t want anything. He got several bottles of wine and a few other things, so it’s not like we went all-out. He just likes being grumpy.

My sister was feeling guilty over getting so much stuff - and commented that this Christmas left her feeling empty. I welcomed her to her 20s and told her that this is part of the existential dilemma we all face as adults… the realization that most things are meaningless, but that it shouldn’t keep her from enjoying the gifts we got for her.

Dinner was good, but I ate too much starch - rye bread, potato and cheese pierogi, Polish mushroom soup with egg noodles, a biscuit, a small piece of breaded flounder (with lemon juice) and then dessert (Polish cake, orange slices and various chocolates truffles.) I didn’t eat a LOT of food overall (a slice of bread, 3 pierogi - not a huge quantity) but it was a goodly amount of very filling things. Glutenous things. Floury, starchy things. My tummy is like a pot of paste or papier mache right now.

As for me, I was quite satisfied with my Christmas, despite the drama. There was some laughter (which is uncommon) and that was valuable. There was only one problem with some snow boots I got (a half size too small) so my mom called the company - tonight - and they’re sending out a new pair on Tuesday, and we can return the ones I have here now.

Now if we’d only get some snow. I’ll be very upset if I got these waterproof suede snow boots and we don’t get any snow this winter, thanks to global warming. It was 60 degrees today. SIXTY! My mom commented that it was a beautiful day; I replied, “Yeah, for APRIL.” Not for winter and certainly not for December 24/25th.

It doesn’t look promising for New Year’s either. Oh, well.

To those of you celebrating, merry happy. Enjoy the rampant consumerism and all the feelings of goodwill it generates between/among family members.

I hope your celebration is peaceful and drama-free!