The holiday was wonderful and wondrous, as it should be.
There was baking. With "help," of course. I have a feeling Galaxy thinks she is actually helping. She loves to share the step stool with XX and watch carefully. XX explains all as she goes along, an excuse for talking.
Red hangs out, too, always hoping for a dropped tidbit.
We went to see a light and music show, along with the reading of "The Night Before Christmas." XX's favorite part was getting a balloon at the end.
We drove along a part of town known for its holiday decor.
XX helped with some of the decor/advertising for our grocery store.
We found a tiny Charlie Brown tree on our morning walk one day and later took it a bit of holiday sparkle.
Suzie and her family came for dinner on Christmas Eve and I am only now realizing I never took a photo. Enjoying too much to think of it. Suzie brought some poppers with whistles playing various notes on the scale. After all had been popped, we tried to play some Christmas tunes, with XX conducting. I don't think any of us could say it passed as music, but it definitely was fun.
On Christmas Eve, XX was allowed to open a present. Three, actually, as she helped Red and Galaxy with theirs.
Christmas Day was also full. The middle of the day was spent in one of XX's necessities: her "starfish."
She has always been bothered by the fact that there are people who ask for money or food, so last year, she started making lunches to take out. We don't do many as they are full bags of food with some for now and some for later. But she knows of the
starfish story and thinks, even if she can't take care of much, she can take care of some.
XX sewed up gift bags, then made lunches, with extra snacks for later, plus a pair of new socks, toothbrush kits, and wipes.
Sadly, it didn't take us long to find people and every one of them was grateful for the bag and, I think, the idea that they hadn't been forgotten on a day when so many of us are surrounded by abundance. XX is always quiet on the way home from these drives, full of thought.
She keeps ziplocs of dog food near her in the car so if we see someone with a dog, she can also help the dog, often pit bulls for which she has a special place in her heart. The gratitude for the kibble often outweighs that for food for themselves and the owners go right to their pets and feed them. There are granola bars in her travel bin in the car so she never has to pass someone asking for food.
So it was a happy day of giving as well as getting. But I am sure, the giving outweighed the other and will leave a more lasting memory.
Christmas as it should be.
