Our Bird Is Still Frozen

For most, Christmas get-togethers, meals, and unwrapping are over, but we still have time. This year work schedules and other commitments means our family’s meal and gift exchange will happen late December.

From time-to-time this happens, “Better late than never,” is what we say.

Friends teased Mister and I, “Lucky you guys, you can do your shopping on Boxing Day.”

Even mentioning this makes Mister cringe. He’s a necessity shopper, not a crowd shopper. An adventure like that would probably give him nightmares well into 2018.

If I wanted to go Boxing Day shopping bad enough and begged enough, (heavy emphasis on the Italic words) Mister might come with me. He wouldn’t kick and scream (I don’t think), but he would mutter my craziness for sure.

So, our gifts were wrapped and under the tree almost two weeks ago. Leaving things for the last minute is not really my style, anyway. Well, most things, and most times. Smiley face. Sometimes I wish I did, because every year after I’m done wrapping, I think of or find what I consider better gifts.

Maybe this is normal, and it happens to others? Let me know.

In general, I do better with crowds than Mister, tolerating them for short periods. That is if I’m not trying to make an appointment or catch a plane.

Not living in a town or city makes Boxing Day shopping an effort and indulgence. In the last thirty-five years, I’ve gone maybe 4-5 times. I can’t remember if I bought much other than wrapping paper and a small wall mirror.

The years we stay at the son’s for Christmas, being he is a city dweller, he treats me to a Boxing Day outing. He enjoys shopping, so it doesn’t take much convincing.

This season had looked like we wouldn’t see family until late December, but that changed with a text message early last week.

A cold spell moved in, temperatures dropped from plus double digits to a low of minus 32 degrees Celsius at nights. That didn’t stop Mister and I, from hitting the highway Saturday. We made the 1 1/2 – 2 hour drive which took 3 hours because of heavy holiday traffic, and snowy weather.

With a little plan shuffling, we spent that night at the son and his wife’s. Oh, and the right team won in cards. Smiley face, it was the son and I.

The earlier mentioned text was an invitation from our adopted daughter (as we call her). Christmas eve her and her other half hosted an appetizer night with her brother and family, our son and wife, our daughter and husband, and Mister and I, in attendance.

We didn’t want to intrude on anyone’s Christmas morning, so Mister and I declined offers and stayed at a hotel that night. We did stop for a couple quick visits on our way home though.

It turned out we were blessed this year, and saw the daughter, son and their spouses, both Christmas eve and Christmas day. Plus, we caught-up with the adoptees and their families. This made for a great holiday season and it’s not even over yet.

The only other thing we could have hoped for was to catch-up with the oldest daughter, her husband, the grandkids, and great grandkids who unfortunately were busy with other family commitments.

Soon, we’ll pack this bird, a ham and the wrapped gifts and head to our daughter and husband’s for two nights. Looking forward to it.

I wish the weather was warmer we could spend time with her horse, but visiting and games instead will be fun too.

Do you enjoy shopping? Can you handle crowed sale days?

Do you leave gift shopping for the last minute?