We put up and decortated the tree this morning, with purple and white lights and all of our favourite ornaments. My sisters and I divided up the family ornaments this past summer (my parents don’t do a tree anymore, as they winter in SC), and so I’ve got some of the ornaments from my childhood as well as the traditional tree-topper we used every year for as long as I can remember. (I like it because it’s a silver pointy thing rather than a star.) Ken put up outside decortations as well—the pentagram (well, it is! how convenient) and long strand of lights that the former owners of the house left behind. He then made an oak leaf out of some heavy plastic, and in a few minutes he’s off to buy another holly leaf so he can use the lights off of it for the oak leaf.

I, meanwhile, have been copy editing my little heart out. I’ll still have an article to do tomorrow, but it’s not a long one. We don’t have any real traditions for Xmas day other than opening presents (and last year, we sat in the hot tub until midnight on Xmas eve so we could open one present, and then ended up opening them all…). In the morning we’ll go to Steve and Joelle’s and do the family thing. In the afternoon/evening we plan to watch some traditional holiday movies that I, being lame, have never seen (“It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Story”), and start our Twelfth Night garb.

Except, of course, I forgot to tape “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Oh well. It’ll be on next year.

We had dinner at Ken’s dad and his wife’s (Anita), joined by bro Dennis and Anita’s daughter Carly and her husband Kevin. Lots of yummy food, and it was nice to meet Carly and Kevin.

Now Ken’s wrapping the last few presents for tomorrow morning’s festivities, and then we’re going to sit in the hot tub and gaze at the stars for awhile. And then, maybe open a present…?

According to Christian legend, at midnight animals will be granted the power of speech. I always wonder, in what time zone? Or it is at midnight wherever you are? What time PDT was midnight in Jerusalem? Did I miss this yet again, dammit?!

No matter. What matters is being with the ones you love on this special night of this magical season. Even if those you love are far away, they’re with you in your heart.

Happy Holidays to you all.