One Long Celebration

Staci here, on my every other Saturday, thinking about celebrations. For me, the entire fall season feels like one long celebration. With my husband’s birthday happening a few days before Halloween and my oldest son’s birthday a few days after, that two week period is full of family dinners, parties, cakes, candy, and presents. Just when I think about relaxing, the turkeys show up at the grocery store and Thanksgiving arrives. As soon as we’ve stuffed our faces and waved goodbye to the relatives, my husband unpacks the Christmas decorations. December is a month-long celebration of carols, lights, and baking.

This Christmas Day gathering was a bit smaller than in previous years. My dad got his hip replaced in mid-December. The surgery went really well, but he’s on a strict physical therapy regimen with all sorts of rules on how to sit, stand, and walk. Since Grandpa’s lap is my kids’ favorite place to sit, we couldn’t risk injuring that new hip and decided to postpone our full family celebration with my parents until late January or early February. That whittled our guest list down to my sister and her husband. Until her husband fell ill Christmas morning. Really, is there a worse time to be sick? Okay, probably, but I can’t think of an example right now. But my sister still came over, and we followed our usual holiday traditions, only with less people.

Even though the holiday was a bit quieter and not what we were expecting, it was still nice. We enjoyed a hearty meal, shared some laughs, opened some gifts, and celebrated the day. The kids were completely pooped by the time seven o’clock rolled around and merrily went to bed without protest (thank goodness, since my own energy was depleted at one minute after seven).

Now the decorations are down, the kids are already bored with their new toys, and the house is once more back to normal – just in time to celebrate the new year. I can’t wait to blow that horn at midnight and welcome the arrival of 2012, the year my first book will be published. I’ll definitely be celebrating that!

Have a happy and safe New Year’s Eve, everyone!!

Comments

[Susan C Shea]

Staci - we'll all be celebrating that debut with you in 2012! It's a thrill.

[Staci]

Thank you, Susan! The publishing process would be a lot scarier without the support of the LadyKillers!

[sharan newman]

And a happy and successful 2012!!!

[Priscilla]

2012 is worth waiting for with a book coming out. Happy, happy, Staci!