I spent this week outsmarting insects called no-see-ums, dismantling and cleaning my apartment, and restoring it after a fumigation, just as everyone enjoys doing a week before Christmas. Me in black leggings tucked into new and surprisingly tight black* Hanes socks, with a long-sleeved shirt tucked into my waistband, to deter the biters. Dressed like this while dragging out paper snowflakes, ceramic light-up houses, and a suped-up tree stand. I looked like a Goth elf. But I beat the invisible little suckers.**
This is good news. And because I’m tenacious and in decent shape, the house is clean, aired, and bug-less. But I’m not ashamed to say this ordeal wore me out. Extra treats have been essential to get me from point A to point B, and I have been enjoying them without the faintest trace of guilt. Christmastime offers up some awesome once-a-year treats. Maybe you could use a couple yourself. Here we go.
Things that Cheer Me Right Back Up
-Driving past the house nearby that has a porch decorated with lit trees and a life-sized Santa.
-Making gingerbread men (to be continued; the dough’s in the fridge to firm up). Finding a cookie cutter for them has proved preposterously futile, so I’m cutting them out freehand. Edibility is the only requisite here, which is good.
-Dim sum and crepes, plus homemade stuff: mozzarella in carrozza, burgers made in the manner of English spiced beef, proper stuffing (which I sadly missed at Thanksgiving), and sour cream coffee cake. The recipe is here.
The Cake. It won a ribbon at the county fair and is a Christmas morning tradition. One year I even put it under the tree as a present to me. Maybe I’ll do it again.
-Following the local volunteer fire truck as the guys dress up and deliver early gifts to our kids. The kids jump up and down in picture windows and I can see them mouthing SANTA!
-Decorating my tree, which I keep in my room, and which was cut down by a gold miner (truth). Yukon Cornelius made a rare appearance in Colts Neck, NJ. He looked great for his age.
-Filling the bedroom with white pine to keep the tree company.
-Visiting the antiques store to see bits and pieces of Christmases past.
-Buying myself a rhinestone necklace and wearing it home from the mall, even though I had on work boots. Logic, schmogic.
-Observing the sky at dusk on New Year’s Day to predict what kind of a year 2016 will be. It’s an old custom. You want to look for a cloud shaped, however vaguely, like a bull. Totally not kidding! Look it up.
-Reading my old book of Christmas ghost stories, which are less scary than they are quaint.
-Sending Christmas cards. I might be one of the only people who likes this activity. That and eating fruitcake (caveat: homemade).
-Opening my vintage Advent calendars, which are German, at least 50 years old, and were owned by my neighbors growing up.
Sweet.
Girl after my own heart.
*I wear black clothes a lot. It matches everything, plus it’s all that’s allowed backstage.
**These guys can get in through window screens. Explains why I never saw them.
