Getting to spend the holidays with my family is one of the most amazing parts of where I am in my life right now. Putt Putt not only encourages me to spend time with them here at the house, she actually does a lot of the prep work so that I don't have to totally wear myself out. Having Fibromyalgia can makes things tough sometimes for me. Cooking a huge family meal and cleaning house would wipe me out so badly that I wouldn't be able to enjoy their company. Add to the fibro the fact that I am working my little fingers to the bone at the computer writing the script I am collaborating on AND the book manuscript that I am editing and co-authoring along with my own novel, and I could very well be a total basket case. But she pitches in like a trooper and takes on a lot of the heaver stuff so that I can have a great day.

 

This Christmas was long and tiring, but I would not have given it up for the world. Christmas day we went to her folks place. Dinner was lovely, and the gift exchange was a great time. Her Mom got me a gift card, even though she HATES gift cards (she thinks they imply a lack of thought), because that was what I had asked for. I think she understood when I told her that I needed new clothes, as 50 lbs extra just won't fit into my old clothes anymore. Her sister, bless her heart, remembered a conversation we had this past summer about the fact that I love vintage typewriters. On Christmas day she gave me a 60's era manual typewriter.

 

I was so thrilled I almost cried!

 

When we got home we did a lot of the prep-work for dinner with my side of the family, and then headed off to bed where we slept off a major case of tryptophan poisoning. The next morning, we were out of bed at the crack of dawn, drinking coffee and sorting out the rest of the chores to be done. Since we had done so much the night before, there wasn't a lot to do with the exception of a little tidying.

 

We have made it a practice at the holidays of inviting all of the family and a few very good friends. People began arriving about noon and so we put out all of the yummies. As each new person walked in the door, we steered them toward the table. Dinner turned out great! Have I ever mentioned that Putt is an awesome cook? Afterward, we sat down for the gift exchange. We had decided to draw names for the adults as none of us is very financially stable right now. We all bought for the Grandkids and the person we had drawn. My daughter "Wednesday" got me a bottle of wine, some chocolates and the prettiest wine glasses I have ever seen. The Grandsons were just TOO happy with the gift cards to Game Stop, as they had gotten a Wii from Santa. The littlest one, 3 years old and very opinionated, thought that the pajamas we got him, covered with Cars characters and dinosaurs, were just "too cool!!!"

 

After the entire tribe left, we both collapsed on the sofa, tired beyond belief, and yet so happy! Being with my friends and family for all of the important days, though tiring and a little crazy-making, is one of the things I love more than anything, and I am so happy that Pat makes it possible for us to be together.

 

I have to admit, though - when, on Wednesday, she said that Christmas is at her place next year, I kind of breathed a sigh of relief.