I wish I could say it was the morning devotional or the jazzy Christmas playlist that slows me down, but it’s really just the fat cat sitting on my lap. Who wants to disturb the cat? So, finally, a moment of stillness on this sunny-cold early morning to pause. Why is it that Advent, the season of magical twinkly lights and kindness to strangers, so peaceful on paper, is also the season of overly stuffed to-do lists that lead to scurrying like the proverbial mouse running from that fat cat? There are two sides of the paper, I guess.
The to-do lists are like Finn’s ideally packed carry-on backpack. When Finn was about six, he wanted to pack his own bag for the plane. It looked…problematic. It held a stuffed animal, some snacks, large but high-quality headphones, a hardcover book, and–a basketball. And possibly a pair of watershoes. These are all useful items, they just don’t all fit. He is now, at age 13, practically a professional packer, but yesterday, when he packed for a trip to Florida with his friend F. Sullivan, he packed all of the same things, swapping only the stuffed animal for his iPhone. He literally asked if could take his basketball. And a pump.
So this is what my holiday to-do lists look like and you will see it is also overly stuffed and lacking cohesion. I have “send research questions for flooding data set (Pakistan),” “start application for Tatum,” “tip the mailman,” “prep for Board meeting,” “deliver Christmas cards to neighbors,” “find ribbon for wrapping,” “sign Clara up for spring tennis,” and “buy themal underwear” in the same column. Don’t even ask about the other column.
The thermal underwear is for sleeping in 11 degree weather. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, 11 degrees. Kevin—happily back from Delhi last week for the holidays—tried to back out of it last night: “Hon, if Tatum’s done with the program, can’t we just pick her up and come home?”…even though the intent of this visit is to go see and live in her world, even if just for a day. And a night, a cold, very cold, night. She has been doing this for 8 weeks all day, all night, a foot and a half of snow notwithstanding, and she has talked not about the horrible freezing cold but about the stars. So I think we can be brave enough to do this for one night. And honestly, I’m so excited to see her night sky, to see her, to see the stars in her.
Tatum doesn’t need us to pick up any Christmas or bithday presents to give on her behalf because she is making them, she said. She missed Clara’s birthday celebration, which was a small dinner at the house with Poppy’s Pea Soup and take-out Indian food on the menu. Clara’s requested cake was chocolate with vanilla icing and Christmas decorations on top, and the Ben & Jerry’s Phish food ice cream was an added bonus. She got ice cube trays from Poppy & Grams, overpriced Ugg-brand house slippers (apparently to wear to school), her ears double pierced, and, with Tatum’s persuasive advocacy, her nose pierced. Ugg. She looks as gorgeous as always, she just now has a little extra…sparkle.
Clara can now say she’s older than Finn, becuase he hasn’t had his family birthday celebration yet, so he’s 13 and she’s 14 for a hot second. For most of his life, he has liked to say that he’s “a minute taller” than Clara, since he has generally ranged from a half inch (age 2) to about 5 inches (age 12) shorter than her. This year, the reversal began its journey. Finn is officially taller than Clara. But he is still 13.
The trip to Florida is Finn’s birthday present, way better than the do-it-yourself-robot box I would probably have gotten him, which would sit in the giveaway pile by spring break.
Thanksgiving break was extra special this year because it also included a birthday party, this one too big to squeeze into the dining room at home. Doug organized a party for Mom at the Lake Temescal Beach Chalet, with catered food, the Bobby Young Project band, pretty flowers, and enough wine to keep Sonoma’s wineries going through the next half year. So many of Mom’s friends came. I can share my little speech about her in another post, but the gist of it is that she has so many good friends because she is such a good friend. Rob organized a slide show of our beautiful, funny, accomplished, stylish, always-game mom and there was some epic dancing and conversation. It was my first chance to meet the newest Wallace, King Arthur, which was very exciting. Seeing my cousins was the best. Mom’s Thanksgiving stuffing was also the best.
A lot of bests to be thankful for as we deepen our walk into the Advent season. Here’s hoping that thermal underwear arrives in time for the walk.
@theterrace 
Awesome!
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