Our 12 days of Christmas

At the end of December, the "holidays" brought to me...

 

A dozen kids in a pageant

 

11 days not working

 

10 YACS a-caroling

 

a ninety-six year old's funeral

 

an eighty dollar battery 

 

7 nights of movies

 

60 stamps for letters

 

the Clinch Mountain Boys

 

4 Christmas Masses

 

3 migraines

 

2 meals with Mom

 

and a birthday party for a nephew. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Footnotes:

 

12.  There were 30 of us at Mom's for Christmas Eve, with lots of kids, most of whom were shepherds, angels, Mary & Joseph, lighting technician, etc. The "dozen" number isn't exactly right, but it's artistic license, already.

 

11.  And only had to use 3 annual leave days!

 

10.  We enjoyed going to Forest Pines for caroling, with cocoa and a cookie exchange at our house afterwards. 

 

9.  My SIL (wife of B3) lost her grandmother (the family matriarch) on the Wednesday after Christmas.  She had lived a long life, faithfully serving God, and will be missed by all of us in her extended family.

 

8.  The dead battery led to us riding the motorcycle in the funeral procession.

 

7.  Izzy and I had a great relaxing break, watching old (B&W) movies, plus catching up on stuff we hadn't seen before. 

 

6.  OK, I only mailed 50 Christmas letters, but we'll use the rest of the stamps before the next rate hike happens.

 

5.  Ralph Stanley came to Bill's Pickin Parlor with the Clinch Mountain Boys (there are 5 of them.)  Ralph has had a tough year, and the Boys carried most of the show.  I'm glad we got to see him, even if he wasn't in full voice.  They just don't make 'em like they usta.

 

4.  We did Christmas Eve at 5 PM and midnight and Christmas Day at 11 AM.  New Year's Day also counts as a Christmas Season Mass (I LOVE having the season be longer than just one day!)

 

3.  Only 3.

 

2.  The 2nd being a delightful dinner with her at our house last night for pizza (thin crust with garlic, Locatelli romano, sun-dried and fresh tomatoes and feta cheese.)  It's fun being able to cook as a team, and I think Izzy, Mom and I did a good job together.

 

1.  Only 1.  We missed the slumber party for the newest 7 year old, but got to go to the 11 year old's which featured a cookout (hot dogs AND s'mores, a hayride, shooting competitions, and lots of climbing on Uncle Izzy by the kids.

 

8-track & MP3 versions available on request.