december excitement

For some odd reason I'm excited today. Maybe it's because it's Friday or maybe it's because I'm babysitting Leo tonight or maybe because Christmas is coming. I'm looking forward to exchanging gifts with friends, seeing the nutcracker, making Christmas breakfast, and all of the lights.

I've decided that I'm going to avoid the insanity of shopping. I'm going to do most of it online...and I won't be doing that much anyway. When I really start thinking about Christmas shopping, I wonder how the hell my mother did it. As most of you know, I was an only child for ten years (and sometimes I'm still treated like one). I like to describe my younger self as my mother's living doll. This is not to discredit her parenting by any means, but she indulged me.

While most children ran to their trees to find a few great packages with their name on it. I think all but 6 packages under our Christmas tree were for me. I vivdly remember two Christmas's in particular--1989 and 1991. I'll dedicate today to 1989.

I was 5 yrs. old and a sassy kindergartener. On Christmas morning, 1989, our Christmas tree was filled with gifts. Most of which were mine. My mother put on the Christmas music as I tore into my loot. I received a new bike, a vcr, a race car, dolls, a doll house, stuffed animals, a tea set, a hot pink punk wig, clothes, jammies, shoes, undies, a mug for hot chocolate, new ballet slippers, new leotards, tights, a Minnie Mouse pillow with arms and legs...oh my god the list goes on. So when thinking about this insane/obsurd list, I wonder how my mother had time to enjoy the holiday season. It seemed she was constantly primping me, putting me in ruffled socks and dresses, shopping for me, and baking cakes. Wouldn't she have rather said forget it and just sent out Christmas cards??

show your cards

While my twenties have at times seemed to turn me into a rigid, negative, selffish, cynic, I have a lot of soft spots (want to try me--wink wink). I get great joy from sending (and receiving) letters, cards, thank you notes, and so forth. So, I'm awful exciting that it's time to pull out my fancy Holiday card spreadsheet!

Before meeting up with a friend last night, I took a trip to the MoMA store. I browsed for a good half hour before I came across the holiday card section. Two display fixtures sat toward the back of the store gleeming (i'm serious). It was perfect. There were so many interesting cards to choose from. One box featured hot pink reindeer on a silver backdrop. Another opened up into this cut out "enchanted forest." I decided this year, that I would search for a holiday card that simple, yet poignant. There at that MoMA I found my 2006 holiday card! If you are lucky and on my list you shall receive one. And you're going to love it...it's so "domino."

I also found a card that had me "in stitches." It was a vintage photo of a young boy, possibly from the 60's. It seemed as though the photo had been maniuplated (photoshopped, y'all), so the child wore lipstick and blush. He sat in front of a Christmas tree and the above caption read: Everyone Loves A Little Fruitcake During the Holidays.

I hope someone sends me that card.

I'm excited to send out my cards this year. More excited than I was last year. My list has grown and I'm much more savvy about this activity. I'd love to believe that people will be enchanted by my card, but it will sit with the others from family, distant relatives, and friends--which is ok. I will be pleased and the holidays are about giving, so give me joy and get on my Holiday card list, pronto!