our christmas

This year was the Christmas of tuberose and sunny weather and rainbows, of trampolines for two of the three kids because of one sprained ankle, and backyard landscaping all happening a few days before, and Andy Williams carols on the tape player while Mommy wrapped gifts a little at a time instead of all on one night.

It was the Christmas of things all falling together at the last minute.

It was a Christmas of fresh garden papaya and hummus and lots of different breads for lunch, waffles and pancakes and fresh fruit for breakfast.  It was the last time I ever cook a whole chicken that was supposed to take one hour but took almost three and was eaten so late, but still Christmas dinner (mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, cranberry relish, green beans) was delicious.

It was the Christmas of our first houseguests -- Annie and Heboh (before the baby) and basketball with the boys and Balinese flutes and the day after Christmas strawberry pie and ice cream every night.  Of laughing and stories, and memories and traditions, of playing Apples to Apples, and teaching Heboh more English.  Of hearing about the reverence of a far away culture, of welcoming their sacred mantras and blessings and realizing that no matter how different we think we are, we are more the same than we are not.

It was, as it should be, a Christmas of love.