I haven’t been home for Christmas since the pre-divorce days. Which, after a quick check of the Decembers chronicled by my blog, I figure would have been 2001.
For five years, Christmas has been care packages and phone calls and days spent with friends and their families because I was not done being mad at my own. But apparently, there is a five year statute of limitations on being really, really pissed off and this Christmas, I’m going home to be spoiled and coddled and baked for. And I’m not alone. We’re all going home. (Except my brother and his new-ish wife who have in-law obligations. But as the only non-girl, he doesn’t count anyway.)
Home, these days, is a city or two away from its former address and now shaped like a two-bedroom condo – not the five bed, three bath monster we grew up in. And the image dancing around in my head of four Hunter sisters sharing the same wee bathroom and cramped sleeping spaceâ€_ well, I can’t tell you how it just fills me to the brim with holiday cheer.
I remain stupidly optimistic.
Have fun! God, that sounds awfully like my family…
I’m going home for Christmas for the first time in almost 20 years. Unfortunatly, both my mother and brother have discovered religion in the last few years. Penatcostal religion in my brother’s case. Nothing like being a hell bound non-believer in a house o’ the saved to bring out the Christmas cheer. I’d rather have dental surgery. Oh wait, I am having dental surgery, just 7 hours before we get on the plane. Gah.
Despite my scroogesque holiday plans, I wish you and all of your readers the best of the season. May it bring you joy, peace and good eats aplenty.
That’s the kind of Christmas of which I’ve always dreamed. Have a happy one!
That sounds wonderful! Have a great holiday, and relish in all of the fun wackiness that is close quarters with siblings!
Merry Chirstmas Fish.
Have a great time! Its awesome that you’re going home for the holidays for familyness! Good luck with the wee bathroom thing though…
OMG, I love it!
I need a pic of the four of you fighting for mirror space.
They way I count, that means I still have another year before I need to submit myself to the fright-fest that is the “whole family Christmas.”
Have fun! Eat lots!
the jewltide won’t be the same without you.
you.are.one.brave.girl.
No tree?!?! Well then my love, Happy Hanukkah to you and the family.
Your NYC family will miss you to bits though, hurry up and get that scrawny ass back home!
Happy Holidays Heather:)
Why no tree? Is that a Mormon tradition?
(From This Fish: No! Ha! But if there is room for her four daughters, there is no room for a tree. Ah, the sacrifices.)
oh but there is a tree. its about 3 feet tall, and sits on a table, under which, presents live. hurray! can’t wait to see you
Dont forget the friends you haven’t seen in years…oh wait…weeks! Dinner and Drinks are to be had girlie! Miss ya and cant wait to see you!
I’d pick your favorite sister and get a close by hotel room……
It’s your own fault for skipping Jewltide. Your mother and I are positively devastated.
This is the first Christmas in four years that my sister’s and I have all been home for Chirtmas as well. Though, we do have a tree, my younger sister and I are sharing our childhood room…twin beds. I packed three bottles of wine, just incase the three she packed wasn’t enough. It should be interesting. So, Happy Hanukkah and welcome home.
wait, mother? me? what??
There’s much to be said about sturdy optimism – Here’s to a surprisingly great Christmas!
Oops – I misread your closing line – you said stupidly optimistic, not sturdily.
Well, there’s much to be said for stupid optimism, too
If you go in with low or no expectations, it usually turns out the best. That’s true for almost anything. Have a happy Christmas!
I wish you luck … and hope you survive!
Cheers,
Crissy
May I suggest adding some form a liquer to your first cup of coffee and continuing through out the day. This helps me get through the day when the meth head shows up with all the kids in tow, the over zealous religious cousin and the senile aunt. That’s a sight to be seen!
Merry Christmas & Good Luck!
Coelecanth, your holiday sounds similar to mine, except its not my mother and brother, its my MIL and BIL! So, while you’ve got, ya know, a life time of love built up, I’ve got…. a large bottle of wine… lol (*higgup!!)
Happy Holidays all!!!
Merry Christmas to you!
Merry Christmas, Heather! I hope Santa brings you that bicycle you want!
I hope you don’t mind, but I loved your tagline and am using it as my chat name. I love U2, and I desperately need a bicycle!
You’re not stupid, you’re a sibling.
Happy Holidays. Hope you have much fun with the family.
We’re flying out on Wednesday if the Denver airport is cleared out by then and we don’t have weather issues.
hehehe I Love the comment about you picking your favourite sis and getting a room at a local hotel! That is a brilliant idea!
Good luck. Remember, a few glasses of wine helps the holiday cheer go down a little easier.
Have a great holiday, and enjoy slumber parties and girl talk. Sounds pretty great!
I’m sure you’ll spend the time of your life, sharing a bedroom with your sisters and being with them for the holidays!
Merry Christmas and the best of wishes!
My philosphy when dealing with family: expect the worst, and then be pleasantly surprised when it doesn’t happen.
Happy Festivus!!!
Sounds like a grand effing time away.
May your wine glass be always filled and you be so drunk that you don’t know any different.