HOLIDAYS....INCOMING!!!

I'll be the first to say that I love my family. I also enjoy the holiday season, and the good spirits that it brings about...at most houses. I'm not saying there aren't good times had at our house, nor am I saying there aren't smiles on faces...but the good times are usually found after my mother's first glass of wine and before my sister's fourth, and the biggest smile of the holidays is the one I see in the rear view mirror (on Mom's face) as I leave for the last time after Christmas. Truth be told, if it weren't like this our holidays would be pretty dull. This year's Christmas has the makings of "one for the books" already. By my estimations it has been 4 years since both of my sisters and myself have all been home on Christmas morning. Word has it that the streak will be halted there, and that we will all be home snug in our beds this year. That puts the count in the house at 5. Five is a good number, small enough for everyone to have their own space, large enough that you don't get annoyed only being spoken to by 1 person. Throw in a couple of brother in laws, a girl friend, and the two newest additions to the clan (my niece and nephew), and my grandmother and you are at 11. That's double digits folks. I can only imagine both the screaming and laughter that will be heard at 722 Woodmont this year. I'm sure at some point in the fury that at least a couple of the following things will happen:
1.)Someone will unwrap one of the many volumes of "How to be a Gentleman".
ODDS:3 to 1
2.)Dad will lose his temper with some techno gadget.
ODDS:2 to 1
3.)Erin and Kate will get pissed at one another over something that only sisters get pissed about and that I will never understand.
ODDS:3 to 1
4.)My grandmother will argue that she is just fine, not tired, and needs to get home immediately after Christmas lunch.
ODDS:2 to 1
5.)Dad will eagerly volunteer to go to Wal Mart on Christmas Eve to pick up a "couple of things" and guarantee that he will be back in 15 minutes. He will return an hour and a half later with "a couple of other things".
ODDS:1 to 1
6.)Mom will at some point become overwhelmed and lose her temper with one of her offspring, causing all of her offspring to discuss her need for a drink, or some form of pharmaceutical sedative.
ODDS:Keep your money folks!

I don't mean to make our house seem like a place that St. Nick my be scared to visit on Christmas Eve because its not. And, I am sure that all families have their own boxes of toxic fumes and fun wrapped neatly under the tree. This entry was simply born from thoughts of Christmases past, and wonders of Christmases future.

Happy Adventures to All!