[22 Dec 2009|01:07am] defyedgravity Kista- I tried your phone and it's not working. CALL ME :) post comment

Day Twenty-One: A Baby [21 Dec 2009|06:37pm] dbarrymoresbeau DAY TWENTY-ONE OF HOLLMANN HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA This Christmas Eve will be a very special one in my household. My sister had a baby in March, the first of us to do so. Now, my parents and I are visiting family on Christmas Day, but my sister and her daughter will be staying in town, so we're spending Christmas Eve with them. Which means I'll be there for my niece's First Christmas. Obviously, I don't remember my First Christmas, so I can't really provide an anecdote about that. I do remember some early Christmases, though, so I am happy to be able to share this experience with my niece. We even brought out some of our stuffed animals of old to let her play with. I could not help but recognize the Rudolph my aunt gave me during our Atlanta Christmas: Plaid shirt, green pants, brown suspenders, and a torn red nose without cotton. There is also the train set I got a year later. It's a whole set with engine, coal, pine trees and caboose; as I got older, I would play Agatha Christie with my Micro Machines on that train. It doesn't really run, but it's neat to look at. And what better gift to give a child on Christmas than a worn hand-me-down? In all seriousness, though, it really means a lot to me, my old traditions becoming her new traditions. She's not even a year old, so she doesn't know the significance of these items to my life. Besides, they have someone new to entertain. I hope she enjoys them as much as I did. Hell, I hope she dresses as snazzily as I did (green sweatsuit with a T. Rex on the shirt). At least I get to say that I was there for my niece's First Christmas. That we sat together by the tree as the angel's wings changed color, that she stared at the Santa Claus figurine perplexedly, a little frightened by this strange giant with the odd suit -- because, let's face it, the first time we see Santa we freak the hell out -- that she fell asleep in her Mama's arms after we all exchanged gifts. Christmas is all about the family, and I am more than happy to spend it with its newest member. It's baby's first Christmas, It's somethin' to see, Mommy and Daddy, Trimmin' baby's Christmas tree. Baby's big brother, Is busy with his toys, He's shinin' up the chimney, For Santa Claus! It's baby's first Christmas, And oh, what a joy, Shopping all around, For every pretty toy. It's a very special Christmas, A blessing from above, It's baby's first Christmas, A Christmas full of love! It's baby's first Christmas, And oh, what a joy, Shopping all around, For every pretty toy. It's a very special Christmas, A blessing from above, It's baby's first Christmas, A Christmas full of love! post comment

Day Sixteen: A Star [16 Dec 2009|11:47pm] dbarrymoresbeau DAY SIXTEEN OF HOLLMANN HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA Today....we put up the tree! Dad, Sarah and I did the lights. Becky, Sarah and I put up ornaments. I put up the angel with help from Mom and Dad. And my niece, who is celebrating her first Christmas this year, put the cloth ornaments in her mouth. If only Virginia were there; then it would have been a real family affair. There was a moment of pause in the proceedings as we decided whether to go with the Angel or the Star. Sarah demanded the Angel, for our star is...well, it's a little tacky. Gold glitter, with Christmas lights shining like a laser show from inside. It matches nothing. At least the fiber optic angel looks ready to sing "Gloria", with outstretched arms reaching to the heavens. It's a bad-ass angel. But that star. It doesn't even have a proper stand. It's cardboard with masking tape attaching it to the star. The whole thing is tacky and haphazardly constructed. And yet, there is a kind of charm to it. Truth is, I miss the star. We used to have a silver Star of David on a spring stand. I don't remember when we switched, but I remember why. The Star of David was coming apart. There were two halves that fit together, and they finally stopped working as a team. It was just when I had learned the significance of that particular Star, too. After all, if you're going to have a Star lead to the King of Jews, might as well be the right kind, you know what I mean? That star hurt, though. It had sharp points. It was a very stabbity star, if you know what I mean. Like, ninjas could use it. Perhaps that was part of the mystique for little me. This great big Holy Star that would hurt you if you touched it. After all, were not Aaron's sons smote when they entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple? Does Alan Rickman not speak for God so that our heads won't explode? The idea of a stabbity Star of David just made sense to me. It also made me feel very cultured and ooh-la-la. "We may celebrate Christmas, but we have an in with the Jews, with their wine and their ashen heads and their lamb's blood!" Mom explained to me that we used a Star of David because it was the Star the Wise Men followed, and it was the symbol of Jesus' family. He was, after all, descended from either Solomon or Nathan, sons of King David, who slew Goliath and fell in love with Bathsheba as she bathed on the rooftop, thereby leading him to send her husband to lead a charge that would kill him in battle. I love the Old Testament. Ah, the point. The point is, an angel is nice and all, what with messages to Mary and shepherds and all the hymns about their awesomeness. But when I get a Christmas tree, I'm going with a Star. It's what the Wise Men followed, it symbolizes Jesus's lineage, and they make more effective weapons. Twinkle twinkle little me I have a lonely life I’m the star upon your tree That makes your christmas bright Twinkle twinkle little me I left the milky way Just so I could be with you on Christmas day Christmas brought me where you are And heaven gave me life I’m that friendly little star You wish upon each night Twinkle twinkle Oh, twinkle twinkle little me I have a present too If you give unshelfishly And make a wish come true I’ll always shine on you Twinkle little me Twinkle twinkle little me Ooh, Christmas brought me where you are And heaven gave me life I’m that friendly star You wish upon each night Twinkle twinkle little me I have a present too If you give unshelfishly And make a wish come true I’ll always shine for you Twinkle little me I’ll always shine for you Twinkle little me I’ll always shine for you post comment

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