Christmas
My Christmas was a very civilised lunch at my mother's with my sister and her partner, after a 5 am (5 am!!) ride on my Appaloosa. The last time I saw 5 am, I was in the early stages of discovering Mag 7.
The highlight of the day was the package from my mother's brother and his wife in Colorado. They usually send calendars and a few bags of American candy you can't buy here. This year, the candy was in a sealed bag with an envelope on the outside addressed to my sister's partner, who we'll call Dave (that being his name).
Opening presents around the tiny, live tree, Mom handed Dave the bag and waited impatiently to see what kind of candy they'd sent this year. He opened the envelope and started to laugh.
Mom: Well? What's in the bag?? Let's see! (I come by my chocolate obsession honestly!)
Dave: No! I'm under instructions. [Puts bag behind chair]
Later he disappeared with the bag on the pretext of changing the music in the other room and hid little Hershey bars all over the kitchen, laundry and family room. Each one had a yellow smiley sticker on it, with an initial and a number. Hee!
The note:
Dec 25, 2005
North Pole
Santa's Helper Dave,
Your secret mission, should you decide to accept, is to hide the enclosed candy. Twelve pieces of candy have been numbered 1,2,...12 for each of the individuals Zebra's Mother, Zebra and Zebra's Sister.
This mission could not be accomplished without your assistance.
Merry Christmas,
Santa
P.S. Your payment is included.
The person who wrote the note is about 60 and the youngest recipient of the candy 31, which just goes to show that you're never too old to have fun with hidden chocolate.
Later Dave had to work and Mom, Sister and I started a jigsaw puzzle and then drove to the beach for a walk. Not having had enough sleep the night before (5 am!), I stayed the night there and then lifted weights with Mom while we watched the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race the next morning. I think I have the perfect balance between family and solitude over Christmas. The next couple of days: Yuletide and ds_seekritsanta. This is a fun week, being able to read without the expectations that go along with knowing the author.
I ended up with two 2006 horse calendars. Would anybody - local or not - like one?
The highlight of the day was the package from my mother's brother and his wife in Colorado. They usually send calendars and a few bags of American candy you can't buy here. This year, the candy was in a sealed bag with an envelope on the outside addressed to my sister's partner, who we'll call Dave (that being his name).
Opening presents around the tiny, live tree, Mom handed Dave the bag and waited impatiently to see what kind of candy they'd sent this year. He opened the envelope and started to laugh.
Mom: Well? What's in the bag?? Let's see! (I come by my chocolate obsession honestly!)
Dave: No! I'm under instructions. [Puts bag behind chair]
Later he disappeared with the bag on the pretext of changing the music in the other room and hid little Hershey bars all over the kitchen, laundry and family room. Each one had a yellow smiley sticker on it, with an initial and a number. Hee!
The note:
Dec 25, 2005
North Pole
Santa's Helper Dave,
Your secret mission, should you decide to accept, is to hide the enclosed candy. Twelve pieces of candy have been numbered 1,2,...12 for each of the individuals Zebra's Mother, Zebra and Zebra's Sister.
This mission could not be accomplished without your assistance.
Merry Christmas,
Santa
P.S. Your payment is included.
The person who wrote the note is about 60 and the youngest recipient of the candy 31, which just goes to show that you're never too old to have fun with hidden chocolate.
Later Dave had to work and Mom, Sister and I started a jigsaw puzzle and then drove to the beach for a walk. Not having had enough sleep the night before (5 am!), I stayed the night there and then lifted weights with Mom while we watched the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race the next morning. I think I have the perfect balance between family and solitude over Christmas. The next couple of days: Yuletide and ds_seekritsanta. This is a fun week, being able to read without the expectations that go along with knowing the author.
I ended up with two 2006 horse calendars. Would anybody - local or not - like one?