A Christmas Carol

Ghost of Christmas Present:

This was the first Christmas (of, with any luck, many) that Alex and I will be together. This was particularly hard this year, as I know I was being pulled in about 15 different directions at once. I felt like whatever I choose, I lose...'cause I'm going to make someone upset.
This was also the first Christmas since my father passed. Anyone who's had to live through something like that will tell you that it's not going to be a good day.
My Christmas ended up going like this -

12/24, noon - Christmas Eve Lunch with Alex. I made for her Shrimp Cocktail, Shrimp Scampi, seared scallops and snow peas. Mmmmmmmmm... I know I needed to fill up, 'cause someone had the bright idea that we were going to have Lasagna for Christmas Eve dinner at my grandmothers. (I don't like baked pasta of any kind.)
12/24, 1:30PM - finished homemade garlic bread for dinner. Lotsa garlic and cheese....
12/24, 4:30PM - Alex and I arrived at my grandmother's house. My grandma has about 50 people over for Christmas every year (relatives - she had 9 kids!) We eat (I had lots of salad and bread - which went over great!) Alex burned her hand on the heating element of the stove and we rushed to Walgreen's for some burn spray.
12/24, 6:00PM - Santa Claus arrives to give all kids (grade school and under) a small toy. I was worried that Alex would be asked to sit on his lap, since it was her first Christmas with all of us - fortunately, that didn't happen. Although, it might have been cute... :)
12/24, 6:30PM - Begin the Secret Santa Exchange. Alex got a gift certificate to a Brazillian restaurant (wow, that looks so good!) and Bath Works stuff. I got a Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Borders gift cards (2/3 of my shopping Trifecta, if only Best Buy were there!)
12/24, 9:00PM - back to my mom's house to put all presents under the tree. Tradition!
12/24, 9:45PM - at our house, to finish wrapping a few gifts, and to let the dogs out.
12/24, 11:00PM - after picking up Teresa and Ben (Alex's niece and nephew) we go to her mom's house and then walk to College Church for Midnight Mass.
12/24, 11:45PM - The choir! I'm stunned. I now know what a good choir is supposed to sound like! (After years of trying hard to drown out the St. Andrew choir)
12/25, 1:30AM - We return to open presents at her mom's house. I got a puzzle game, some chocolate and a portable power station. Woohoo!
12/25, 2:30AM - Take pictures of Catalina, Alex's sister for a magazine shoot. (Later she sends them in and they're published - my first professional photo credit!)
12/25, 3:00AM - Christmas breakfast with Alex's family...chorizo and eggs and cheese and bacon and bread...mmmmmmmm....
12/25, 4:20AM - I drop Alex off at home, go back to my mom's house.
12/25, 4:50AM - I arrive at mom's house, sneak in the back door, make my way to the couch, kick off my shoes, belt and tie and crawl into makeshift bed.
12/25, 5:00AM - I fall asleep, glad that my mom and sisters said they were going to sleep late.
12/25, 7:20AM - This is late?!?!? I hear all three of them puttering arond the kitchen, banging glasses together and hearing the phrase "well, he needs to get up now..."
12/25, 7:30AM - Opening presents at my mom's house. Not a great time. We got several dad-themed gifts which brought the whole operation to a halt while we all cried a bit. Really nice gifts though.
12/25, Noon - The four of us go to JB Cemetery to visit grandpa and dad. Again, not a great time. Although, crying there in the cemetery with the misting sleet and my mom and sisters with me I think was good. I think it helped me move just a little through the grieving process. Not that I'm through it by a long shot...but every little bit helps.
12/25, 1:15PM - Grandma comes over for lunch, roast beast....mmmmm
12/25, 2:30PM - I fall asleep. Yay!
12/25, 3:30PM - I wake up. Boo.
12/25, 4:30PM - I leave to go home. I meet up with Alex and we have a very relaxing rest of the evening...well, as relaxing as I can have on 3 hours of sleep in the last 48.

Ghost of Christmas Past:

A lot would have been the same with previous Christmases. I would have gone to St. Andrew Midnight mass with my family, came home about 3AM, ate Jack in the Box and complained about the Christmas Eve party. "Did you see what X was wearing?" "God, Y was sooo drunk...again!...this year..." And of course, dad would have been there.

I miss you, dad.

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come:

We're thinking we may go out of town next year. Simplifies everything.

And to everyone celebrating Christmas, or Hanukah, or Kwanzaa, or Yule or the Solstice or Boxing Day or whatever, especially anyone who's lost a loved one recently, may God bless us, everyone.