Da Goddess

Ain't No Real Holiday 'Less Somebody Cries

I got my tears out early today. Frustrated and just a little too intent on making the most of the day, I didn't even make it past 8 a.m.

We had to be out and about by 9 so that we could maximize our holiday madness.

Most of San Diego was under a cloud of dust and ash today. We drove out of it and into brilliant blue skies and fresh air, not to mention strong winds. Greg, the kids, and I headed up to the Wild Animal Park and spent a good part of the day enjoying the great outdoors and each other.

The kids were remarkably well-behaved at the beginning. Even when our train was delayed due to a downed tree in the middle of the tracks, they were good. Of course, like any siblings on a holiday, pestering occurred. Like any adults, we labored under the illusion that our admonishing words brought about brotherly (sisterly) love and peace on earth.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. There was crying (not me this time!) even when we expressly forbid it.

Mostly though, we smiled, we laughed, we hugged, and we trekked all over San Pasqual Valley.

It was a very good day indeed.

Home for one of us (who got off to a late start - and I'm not naming names) to have a quick shower....and then off for dinner and a movie. We did the restaurant thing since I hadn't known until Tuesday night that we needed to be thinking about our own Thanksgiving feast (as we wouldn't be dining with the unforgiving pucker-butts I call family.) With me at work all Tuesday night, and no desire to run all over the place trying to find turkey and such (at a non-striking grocer) on Wednesday, we were faced with two alternatives. We could either call friends and elicit a sympathy invite...or we could find a restaurant to accommodate us. We went the restaurant route. I'm never comfortable with imposing on friends, kind as they are, when they have families to attend and other plans in place.

Halfway through dinner, our grand idea to catch a flick fell by the wayside. Tired from the wind and the walking, tired of explaining to the kids about the "no other family" holiday (my sister suggested I lie and tell the children I'd made other plans - I told her to stuff it), and laden with tryptophan, a movie just didn't sound nearly as fun as it had earlier in the day. No. We'll save that for tomorrow - while all the rest of the world is at the mall or at WalMart.

Our unexpected holiday turned out to be for the best. Even with the tears earlier, we celebrated the things for which we are truly grateful. My two beautiful children and my wonderful guy were by my side...they had a good time....it was everything a holiday should be. Could be we've started a new tradition here for ourselves. I wouldn't mind a bit. And, "SURVEY SAYS!" Neither would they.

Posted by DaGoddess at November 27, 2003 11:36 PM