Holidays

REINDEER

 

What happened to the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Did turkeys gobble it down? And-now that I think of it, did all of the Halloween goblins have fun scaring Thanksgiving into Christmas?

 

On Dec. 15th the meteorologist on channel WRMA promised us a snowstorm, a big one. It was on its way down from Canada to Massachusetts just in time for the holiday. Oh great! I sighed. Who wants it? Did Jesus have snow in Bethlehem? Will the city workers have to spend the holiday clearing streets and driveways while their families have dinners without them? I doubt it, truly doubt it. I wouldn't mind shoveling our pavement and steps so much if Clarence, my dear husband, hadn't had a mild heart attack last April and is babying himself until I'll have to get a play pen for him.

 

My house must be in order, the table, with the two leaves added, ready for 14. There is a lot of food shopping to do, cooking, the Christmas lights on the tree and around the front door have to be put up, all the gifts spread out so nobody falls. Where oh where do I begin?

 

Donny, our youngest son is only 10. He has been watching the weather reports and the gray sky all week. 'Ma, it sure doesn't look like snow is coming, does it? I agree but tell him the weather man is smarter than both of us.

 

Just in case he is right, I shop early, have a fresh 18 lb. turkey on order at Terry's market. My list is long. My anger boils over when Terry tells me the biggest tom he could get for me is 12 pounds.' My god, Man, that is a big chicken, not a turkey!' I am forced into buying a frozen bird at 18 lbs. and have no idea how to thaw it without just leaving it at room temperature and sending my family and guests to the hospital.

 

Donny sees me sitting at the kitchen table in front of the frozen bird, just staring out the window. I have to gulp to answer when he asks me what's wrong. 'Donny, go away. You can't help me thaw this turkey. I'm stuck.' Little man that he is, he immediately suggests I go on the web and find out how to thaw it safely.''Come on son, you know all I can do on the computer is email.' 'OK, Mom, I'll turn Dad's on and you watch what I do. Don't be afraid. It's really easy.' Bing, bang, he types in at the top of the page, 'how to thaw a frozen turkey' and as fast I can blink, BOOM, there are the directions. 'Thaw in refrigerator or submerge in cold water. Allow one day per four pounds. DO NOT THAW AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. That encourages bacterial growth.'

 

Another trip to Terry's on Dec. 21 for 4 boxes of bread crumbs, 3 cans of cranberry sauce, carrots, onions, bags of pre-washed salad, walnuts a 12 inch pumpkin pie and 2 Dutch apple pies, cinnamon, 4 assorted pints of Ben & Jerry ice cream, at least 8 medium sized yams to candy, and whatever else catches my eye. I have to honk the horn to get
Clarence outside to help me bring in this load. I give him the lighter bags.

 

Our once a week worker comes in Dec. 23 and sets the table for me. Oh, heavens, I forgot to buy flowers. I start another list, more Cabernet Sauvignon, a bottle of Scotch, ginger ale. Della also is handy with lights and is able to connect the wire in the foyer and the lights around the door.  She doesn't open the gift I had professionally wrapped for her. It's the  robe she told me she loved in Macy's window and I am sure she will be pleased.

 

Donny doesn't look good. He is as ashen as the sky. 'Mom, look, it's raining, It looks like it will rain all day and night. The weatherman should get fired.'  It rains right thru Christmas, up to the 28th.

Our smart son is miserable. 'Why didn't it snow, Mom? It was supposed to snow.' I have no statistical reply . 'Donny, You got all the things you asked for. The Rain didn't hurt you, did it, Dear? See you had gifts and rain-dear and we still have January when you can have Snow, Deer.

 

Come here, Give me a kiss.' That was my extra special present.