Just Us: Christmas, 2015

I guess the wonder really never goes out of Christmas, no matter how old you are. We had a wonderful Christmas and hope that all of those that we love did as well.

I worked Christmas Eve and will be leaving for work this afternoon again, so Tony had a great idea and started our Christmas when I got home last night and opened a bottle of Asti. I love Asti and usually have it for New Year's Eve. It was a nice surprise. We sat in the warmth of the evening on the Lanai, enjoying the unusual weather for this time of year. It was 73 when I got home last night and is going up to 79 today. Even for North Carolina, that is really mild weather for Christmas.

We toasted each other and the times we have shared and started to plan our next year together--a big 27 years as "The Swegles!!"

This morning, we opened our gifts, glad to be able to share some time together today. After that, we had a wonderful meal and soon, I will be off again to the Emergency Room. Hopefully, it will be a light day, patient wise.

We talked to Donna, who will be down with Bob next week and I called Lynn. Tony and I sent her a few gifts and she opened them while we were on the phone. It wasn't much, but at least when she got up this morning, there were things under her tree, purchased for just her with our good wishes.

"Santa Claus" wise, we got some really nice gifts. I got Tony a book on Salvatore Dali, since he enjoyed the exhibit that he and David saw in Florida. We got each other matching gift cards to Applebees and I got shooting lessons. I know, not something you get everyday, but Tony listened to me. Many years ago I was going through a dark period in my life. I felt overpowered, angry and quite vulnerable. I went to a pistol range with a friend of mine and learned how to fire at a paper target with a small pistol. The only other experience I had with guns was when Bill and I were married. We went to a friend's ranch and I was encouraged to try to skeet shoot. I was handed a long rifle and ended up flat on my back in the dust and with a dislocated shoulder when I fired at the target. But, shooting at the firing range was different. I felt empowered and strong. I knew at that point that no one was ever going to physically harm me again. Now, that doesn't mean that I'm going to be "packing" every time I go out, or have the slightest desire to purchase a weapon, but there is a tiny piece of my mind that whispers to me not to be afraid anymore--and that is worth so much. The other good thing about getting this gift is that Brenda also shoots, so it's something we can do together when she visits. Can you imagine the conversation at work??? "So, Jan, what did you and Brenda do when she was visiting--lunch, massages, getting your nails done?" "No," I would reply, "we went to the pistol range!"

Tony also got me some very nice clothes (he has great taste!) and a gift certificate for a massage--something I really need. I got Tony a golf shirt since he has been golfing more lately and a "jogging suit" that I encouraged him to just walk in and not jog.

So, all in all, this was a very nice Christmas. Tomorrow, we are on the road to Charlotte to see Coleton and Anthony. I'm back to work on Monday--some sadist put me on the schedule for 6:30 in the morning, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then 11 to 11 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Donna and Bob will be here to keep Tony company and I hope to be home in time to see the ball drop, bringing in 2016.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our family and friends. May you have as wonderful a day as we did and a bright and healthy new year.

Highlights:

Dixie will sit for hours looking out the window at nothing....do you think we could get her to look up at Daddy so he could get a nice picture of her under the tree--nope--just like a kid!