Feliz Navidad

I am so tired. In the past few years we (the Bitners) have enjoyed our share of rare Christmases. We have been in 3 different houses (this is our first Christmas in this house, and by next year we could be back in McAllen), one or more of us have been absent (this year we were actually all here for most of the day) and for the past two years "Christmas Morning" has been at a different time, this year we're waiting till Sunday, so that Dad can come home from having surgery on his shoulder. 

I stayed in Dallas to have Christmas w/ the boy. I could kinda kick myself for it, it's more sentimental than I'd normally like to behave. Even better is that we've really only been dating since August, and well, damnit I just couldn't help myself. Not celebrating Christmas (gift-giving) growing up and not getting an appreciation for it later in life I really wanted him to see what it was like for us, I wanted him to see why I liked it.  And, I must say, I love Christmas. I love the tree and the ornaments and the stockings and getting up early and then eating breakfast and wearing a new outfit. I love the candy and the cookies and the wrapping paper and sitting all day watching movies. So I was really happy that I could do this on the actual day for him, I even played Santa :). 

(Yes, reading parts of the above paragraph make me want to vomit and throw myself into on-coming traffic, but oh well).

Then I had to drive. I'm so used to having some gigantic family gathering or some place to be that I was getting really stressed about getting to San Antonio and Dad's hospital room on time. Then I realized that he was in the hospital until Saturday no matter what, so really he couldn't yell at me for being late. But, also in it being Christmas, and me being such a creature of habit and tradition, I was pretty ready to see everyone. I made good time (two fairly long stops) and managed to be in San Antonio by noon. I left Dallas at 8. 

Tonight I'm by myself. My brother and sister both have other things to do, Mom stayed in San Anto w/ Dad and so I'm here taking care of the dogs (who got put up for fighting) by myself. I don't know exactly why my mother hasn't had time to put up the decorations (or move into their new house completely) but I have a few ornaments to put on in the morning, and then just the gym and a nice long run. 

Really, the thing I've learned in the last few years is that Christmas is special because of who you spend it with. Sure I love the tree lights in a dark room, and ornaments from my childhood, and the food and the presents, but really, you can roll with the punches on Christmas as long as you're with the ones you love.