Don't laugh

I have officially started my Christmas shopping.

except for one item which I got already.

...that's right.

a story and some bah humbug.

I and I think other people often forget that my mother was a laugh riot... Last night Bosslady fowarded me an email my mother had sent her in esponse to he posting about her funace blowing up two years ago:

Let me share a story with you: Years ago my furnace also blew up and the ball of flames went straight up the chimney - there was no fire in the house thank God. When the fire department arrived at the front door all I could do was stand there and gaze like a mad woman at this tall handsome hunk of a fireman who looked to be in his thirties and at least six feet six inches in height. He was the most gorgeous specimen of a male that I had ever laid eyes on and such a charming smile he had.

So one New Year's Eve when my husband traditionally goes to sleep leaving me to find my own way to celebrate I called the fire department and said that I could smell smoke in the back of my home and that I thought it was coming from a neighboring chimney. And there he was again smiling at me. That has been years ago - long before my children were out of elementary school. I watched to get another glimpse of him all of these years every time I heard the fire engines coming down the street but he's been gone it seems for good. I should have realized that the guy is probably retired like myself. He looked so good that I wonder if he was real and if he was that handsome underneath all of that uniform gear, hat and boots. I swear the guy was made in Heaven. Only in Brooklyn......I secretly believe that I wanted that fireman to carry me down a cherrypicker! Stop laughing and don't repeat this story!

Oh dear. Mom always did love herself a man in uniform.

The email was dated October 2003, a year before she died, and later she mentions that her tumor markers were up... It's funny, I sit here patently dreading going home tomorrow for Christmas (god, it's gonna be so goddamn WEIRD. I've been actively avoiding everyone since June!) but I'm only a little bit sad about Mom. I mean, reading her email made me miss her voice, her talent for telling these hilarious stories about herself, but in a lot of ways I inherited that from her, so it's not completely gone from this realm of existance.

I dunno. This holiday's been so strange. I've had touble acknowledging that it was even the holidays most times, and even though part of me did notice the lights up in town and the decorations, for a large part of it I didn't really care, which just feels wrong becuase this is supposed to be my favorite season ever. There was a time where my dedication to Christmas was as steadfast and zealous as Jazmine from the Boondocks' belief in Santa Claus. This year... I dunno. I've been very whatever about it, and it kinda bothers me how much I'm looking forwad to the whole season being over and done with in another week. *chuckle* Never would have pegged myself for a Scrooge.

Tomorrow I face the family abbatoir, hopefully to run back the day after. Course... I'm still not 100% decided on whether to go or not, despite Dad's message that he wants to see me... I mean, we're not even in Brooklyn, we're at Amastan's in Bumblefuck, PA. *sigh* Seriously, I'd quite rather stab myself in the eye.

I have to go shopping now.

(no subject)

I so rule. I love how I can get the Hexmas shopping for the family done in three hours or less.

Starting to warm up to the idea of going. Slowly.

Lessee...

Presents gotten for everyone? check (Thank Whomever for Newbury Comics and Bunns and Noodle, though the latter nearly gave me a bit of a panic attack. Too many people...)

Presents wrapped? check. You new years evers are getting gift bags. Wow, that's tiring!

Shower taken, bus ticket obtained, I leave in about an hour. I decided to go tonight, as jaicat quite generously offered me drama free crash space for tonight. yay.

Now I have to run around and get unnaked and stuff. oh, and eat.

Merry Christmas, everyone.