Christmas is Coming

It starts with hanging the lights on the tree.

Mary Christmastime

I Wonder What Will Happen If I . . . oops!

On the way home from Chattanooga in October, I took this picture near Monteagle. The irony was too much to resist. The story is that an employee had a little accident in the store room and poof! everything went up in flames. Apparently, it was a spectacular fire.

Smiling's My Favorite

Apparently, people don’t want to read about Oklahoma! anymore. I understand – it’s been up there for a while. Not too many exciting things have happened in the last few weeks and I don’t feel like writing about Paris. Let’s see . . . .

Lacy came into town for Thanksgiving, which was amazing. I never knew Elf (one of my favorite movies) was actually the funniest movie on the planet until I watched it with her. Everyone who knows Lacy also knows she has the best laugh in the world. I forgot that watching movies with her is the most fun because you can never predict what she is going to find really funny. Then she starts laughing and, suddenly, you too think that you are watching the most hilarious movie ever made. The Money Pit and The Three Amigos are good on their own, but they are absolutely incredible when you watch them with Lacy. Mary can even tolerate Naked Gun 2 ½ when she watches it with her.

I also discovered that I now have several friends under the age of 13 (Abby, Béla & Felix). I was asleep on the couch when one called and asked me to come over. I thought it was Abby and I asked, “What are you doing tomorrow? Maybe I can come over then for longer.” The voice responded, “But I’m calling about tonight.” Clearly, she was desperate for a playmate. I told the little voice that I would be there at 7:00.

So 7:00 comes and I drive out to my dad’s house to see Abby . . . who is nowhere to be found. After a confused moment or two, I called Mary’s house and spoke to Felix. “Hi – is your mom there?” He put Mary on the phone. “So, did you call me a couple of hours ago?” She said, “No, but Béla did. They’ve been counting the minutes until you come.” I had to explain to Béla how I made a mistake, etc. and that he would need to count 15 more minutes. Lesson learned: don’t assume you know which one of your child friends called you.

I went to Mary’s that night and ate peppermint sticks while she decorated her tree and the boys had a raging dance party. I’m thinking future rock stars here.