12.25.2008

hark, the herald angels sing.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown

12.23.2008

Buon Natale!

"You know that point in your life when you realize that the house you grew up in isn’t really your home anymore…all of the sudden even though you have some place to put your shit, that idea of home is gone…or maybe it's like this rite of passage…you will never have that feeling again until you create a new idea of home for yourself, for your kids, for the family you start. It’s like a cycle or something. Maybe that’s all family really is: a group of people that miss the same imaginary place."
-Garden State-

So...this is what Christmas is to me.
This is why it's my absolute favorite time of the whole entire year.
Because for a magical 3-4 days, that "same imaginary place that everyone misses" is re-created.
everyone is in the same house. on uncomfortable air-mattresses because Grandma and Grandpa have to have separate bedrooms or they keep each other awake snoring.
and all of our crap is there.
and the presents we spent too much money/not enough thought picking out.
and there are little kids with sticky fingers,
and late-night wine on the back-porch with my mom/best friend who i've missed terribly,
and dogs who eat entire pies off the counter top, a
nd sappy cards from my broke college-kid brother that make my mom cry,
and last-minute newspaper-used-as-wrapping-paper,
and Gran mixing up all of our names,
and wayyyyy too much food,
and the inevitable fight because we're all having to co-exist in the same space together again.



and its just fcuking fantastic.