It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like . . . You-Know-What!

Now we come to that special time when I become even more prone to tears than I am throughout the rest of the year (and you thought I couldn’t get any worse!). Seriously, no matter how cheesy or corny I know a TV special or song or story is, I cry at everything that has to do with Christmas. We share song playlists at work, so there’s plenty of Christmas music going around, and I seriously started crying in my cubicle listening to the Muppets sing “Silent Night” (although I immediately switched over to laughter after hearing their pronunciation when they sang a verse in German). How extremely hokey. (And only slightly embarrassing.) I just do that.

I think this is after Sparky licked my eye.

Thanksgiving was most excellent. Esther and I headed to her parents’ house on Wednesday evening, where we had a brief respite before going to Twilight with her mom and sister Rachel. Neither of us had an intense desire to go to that particular movie, but Esther half expected it of her mother to want to go, so go we did. And yes, there were parts in the movie where I seriously wanted to pull a “Statler and Waldorf” moment, but there weren’t as many as I initially expected! I was amazed. In fact, I would almost say I liked it. But I’m not sure I’d go that far. I’ll have to ponder it some more, if it’s worth pondering.

Got some attitude here. (because we haven't eaten yet)

Thanksgiving Day was very good, what with all that yummy food around. Esther and I spent a little bit of the morning being silly and taking pictures of ourselves in hats and playing with Sparky. We were asked to provide some musical entertainment that night while everyone was digesting, so I played a Rachmaninoff piece, Esther played a movement of a viola concerto, then we made up a medley of a couple of hymns that seemed to go well with the spirit of the holiday. Surprising was the fact that it actually worked out semi-well, considering we hadn’t practiced anything together for a couple weeks, and I still had no clue what chords I was playing during “Simple Gifts”. Tender mercies, I suppose. We ended the night by preparing ourselves for the next big holiday of our lives by watching Muppet Christmas Carol. Yay! (And let’s all count how many times Megan has referenced the Muppets already in this post.)

Shock of all shocks, we actually did go shopping on Black Friday, which I have never done before. But it was something to do that day. So I and the Morris sisters went to a mall in Salt Lake in the afternoon (very crowded, but probably nothing compared to the morning). It wasn’t a horrible experience, but I’m not sure I’d want to do it again. I’m just counting my blessings that all my Christmas shopping, barring any unforeseen circumstance, is done. (And no, I’m not telling you what I got you.)

This is what we say to shopping on Black Friday.

We helped set up the Christmas tree in the Morris living room, which was entertaining simply because they were so overjoyed when they realized they wouldn’t have to get out a stepladder to put on the top branches . . . because I, the “painted maypole” (ha! identify that reference!), was there. They felt the need to ask Esther’s dad, when he came home, if he could see a ladder. His response? “No, but I see Megan.” So I have a purpose in life, everyone! Finally, being tall has paid off!

Just to show you how much taller I am than the entire Morris family.

We came home that night and set up our own tree in our living room (well, “our own”, meaning the shorter Morris one that they weren’t going to use). I honestly don’t know what I was more excited about, having a Christmas tree to decorate or having a new TV that we don’t have to bang on every ten minutes to keep the picture clear (oh yeah, one of our many Wal-Mart trips during the weekend . . . Esther bought a TV—it’s awesome). The last couple of days we’ve added a few more decorations and lights, and I’m pretty thrilled that it’s come to this time of year. And I’m loving decorating the house. I cannot wait to make sugar cookies! (yep, I’m a nerd) I am ecstatic that I have Christmas music to play and friends and family to see, and people to serve. Hooray!

A work in progress

-Me

“Well, I suppose that on the blessed day of Christmas, one should drink to the health of Mr. Scrooge, even though he is odious, stingy, wicked, unfeeling, and badly dressed!” –Emily Cratchit, aka Miss Piggy