Christmas Eve 2000 was Sunday

As I drove home tonight from last minute errands, to dive into my jammies and under a quilt, I remembered Christmas Eve 2000. Such a particular Christmas Eve when I drove to Iowa with two cats in the tow. 

*****

I'd put off the trip a couple days because of sciatic nerve issues, a cold--and well, the drive was 768 miles one way. I just wasn't feelin' that jolly. 

*****The night before Dad called me. I burrowed under a pile of used tissues and pain like electric shocks up my leg every centimeter I moved. While Dad suggested maybe I shouldn't come. Since I didn't feel good, cold, weather, blah, blah, blah. 

*****I told Dad: "It's Christmas!" And he just sighed: 'Well, you're gonna do what you wanna do anyway." As much discomfort I was in, I knew then I HAD to get up and go. I just HAD to. 

*****On Dec 24th, I got a late start: 8 AM. When I did this all day drive, I usually tried to leave by 4 or 5 AM.  I filled up the gas tank, paid for my treats and told the cashier I was headed to Iowa. The cashier looked at me like I lost my mind. I think my two cats looked at me that way too. The cashier wished me a Merry Christmas and to be careful. 

*****About 9:30 PM, I pulled into Dad's drive way in Iowa and honked the horn. Thru the picture window, I saw Dad get up from his chair. I knew he watched that picture window, chewed on a King Edward cigar, waited all those hours for me. I'm sure that Christmas Eve was the one day Dad pulled himself away from his beloved westerns. I got out of the car and realized a wooden plank was more flexible than I was. The windchill factor had been on the negative side of zero for hours. 

*****I grabbed my two cats--of course--and made it into the house. The rest of my stuff could be brought in later. Sure, it would be frozen, but oh well!  After I grabbed the two scared cats in my bedroom so they could calm down, I fell into Dad's arms so I could calm down. I was back in the one place I always felt safe. Dad muttered I shouldn't have done all that driving in the cold. I told Dad I couldn't miss Christmas. 

*****And 2000 was the last Christmas we spent together. So now 12 years later-no sniffles, body aches still, but that's more to do with age and got cats. No matter how much something changes, it all stays the same. And I smile.

*******I'll be home for Christmas--if only in my dreams.

Christmas Eve 2011

I adore Luther Vandross' version of this classic. And again, I realize how much I miss Luther's voice. My guess is nothing can out sing the angels of Heaven's Choir!
On this day before the Reason for the Season dawns, I think about Christmas Eves past. I posted this on Christmas Eve 2009. My thoughts have not so much changed--except I know how much more I am truly am blessed.

Christmas Eve 1998 was Thursday

Was going to repost what I blogged in 2009. 'cause I liked it and thought it summed it all up--even my thoughts-for 2010. Then gandered in my 'history books' -aka my diaries- to check what happened on Christmas Eves passed. As I started to read 1998, I smiled and remembered it well. I'd forgotten these events happened on Christmas Eve.

Back in my Iowa hometown for Christmas, and I actually flew instead of driving. Hmm. I wonder who babysat the cats or if I bordered them? Anyway. there was snow and a temperature with a wind chill of a gazillion below zero. Far cry from even the coldest days in Dallas. I also had my usual December sniffles and wondered if I would shake them before my one and only book signing of my one and only book in our town's library scheduled in a couple days.

My 'history book' says as I came in the house from getting a newspaper because there was a notice about my book signing in it, the phone rang. It was the mom of Dwight, a classmate of mine. I was floored. She was thrilled about my book and would I please come over to her son's house (my classmate) and spend a little of Christmas with them? I was floored still. My dad and step-mother had told me how my Dwight's mom had called the house wondering about me and they'd run into her while they shopped in my town one of the two grocery stores.

I forget my sniffles. I put on some kind of cute sweater. I had to take my step-mother's car, which I was surprised it didn't freeze up on the maybe 5 minute--if that-drive to Dwight's house. It was about 8pm or so. Pitch black, and iceberg cold. It's Iowa, so you just bundle and go.
Dwight and known each other since we were in grade school, yet this was the first time I was in house, with his parents and his kids. One of sons and I share the same birthday, so that's cool. The whole night was cool and great. His family was wonderful. Honestly, looking back, it was kind of an intro to people asking me questions about my writing. We chatted, laughed and just fun. It was soon close to 11pm. .

Dwight's parents left and so did the kids. They had their own friends to tend to. Dwight and I sat on his couch. Just the two of us. Dwight was one of the most popular guys in our high school. Blond, blue eyed. We'd always known each other. In fact for my 18th birthday party, he stared the pool to get me flowers. On the day of my party, I was presented with 3 1/2 dozen red roses. All because of Dwight. Back to this night in 1998, I remember Dwight held a copy of my book. He gushed how I had written it and all I could think of "We're sitting here alone. Talking and listening to Christmas music!"

We chirped like the two 16 year old kids we both felt like. Then this song came on the radio, "Blue Christmas." Dwight says, "Let's dance!" I go, "I HATE this song!" Well, the question became how could I possible hate Elvis?? I didn't. Just this song was not my favorite Elvis song.

Didn't matter. Dwight and I slowed dance and laughed to this song. And then he kissed me. Yea, I was definitely 16 again. In all the years we'd known each other, Dwight and I had never kissed like that. I smile now. That night, I remember we talked about so many things, our lives, past and future, including our love lives. He had split up with somebody and my man was back in Dallas--at least I thought he was my man. That didn't matter either, because Dwight kissed me again.

The wind howled outside and I didn't care. It was one of those 'if time could stop' moments, because it may not even happen again. And it hasn't. Sure, when I'm back in my hometown, I always see Dwight. The electricity zips and zaps from both of us. I wonder if Dwight wonders how it could have maybe been different....That night we talked like we never talked before or since. We were the only two on the planet. It touched me.

The whole point is, that Christmas Eve in 1998, I told Dwight whenever I hear "Blue Christmas' by Elvis, and only Elvis---I'll always think of him.

....and I wonder if he does the same.

Oh, and when I left Dwight's house? My step-mother's car would NOT start for about a half hour. Then it finally did and I had to let it run to warm up. It may have been 40 below windchill factor. I realized then how I don't miss Iowa winters.

Until I said good night to Dwight.

Sweet, blue moment in time.

Christmas Eve 2009

And this picture is the view from my front door here in Dallas. Just like Iowa--almost. :)

On this day of all days, as I always do, I recall the spirit of Christmas Eve Past. Especially when I was a kid and didn't know my parents 'helped' Santa out during this night. Just could never get why they seemed to be so tired on Christmas Morn and why sometimes the milk I left out for Santa would smell like that funny stuff my dad drank: SCOTCH.

Or that first Christmas after my mom's death three months prior. It was iffy Dad and I would have any kind of celebration. Both weren't feeling it. Then I remember one day, Dad pulled the King Edward Cigar from his mouth and said, "Dammit, we're having Christmas." The next thing I knew, we had a tree and goodies under it. It wasn't the same, yet it was. The next Christmas Eve, I woke up to a beautiful piano in my house. Dad was shining it up. I hadn't heard anything, when it was delivered that morning. I still have it with me on this Eve.

Or the Christmas Eve, my boyfriend at the time--we'll call him Comic Book, due to his love for them, especially Superman, and Thor--and etc. Anyway, it was our first Christmas and we'd dated pretty much all year. Since his family, which we was not that close to, was in Louisiana, I invited him to my parents house. Our relationship was shakier than the Titanic when it met that iceberg, however on this night, Comic Book was a true little boy as he realized some of the presents under the tree--for HIM. He'd never really had such a thing. Considering my dad could NOT stand Comic Book, the gesture was grand.

Or the Christmas Eve I drove to Iowa from Dallas when I had sinus stuff, plus pain from my sciatic nerve. I'd already put off the trip a couple of days because I was miserable. Dad called me the night of Dec. 23, to check on me. I was stuffy and lie flat on my back to ease the sciatic nerve pain. Dad suggested--quite firmly-maybe I shouldn't come and plus the weather, blah, blah, blah. Of course, I blurted out, "It's Christmas!" Dad tried to sugar coat it how I could come back later in the year--when it was nicer. Then Dad, being the man he was said, "Well, you're gonna do whatever you want to do anyway." So on Christmas Eve morn, I didn't leave as early as I wanted to-still ached and sneezed. However I piled my stuff, desktop computer, two cats and me and up I-35 for a 750 mile trip, I went. Arrived around 9pm Christmas Eve night. Dad said I was his best Christmas present. And he mine. That was our last Christmas Eve together.

So on Christmas Eve 2009. I'm not back in Iowa, eventho friends opened their homes to me in Iowa and in Dallas. Earlier this morning, a chum was at the airport to fly to his parents' home. He'd text'd how there was a delay, so he sat. I called him at 7:15am and coughed and sneezed from sinus stuff and frog voice. We chatted until he got on the plane. Later he text'd his arrival was safe and sound.

Although both my parents are gone, I realize on Christmas Eve 2009. their spirits warm this house.

Some things aren't the same, yet they still are.

I am blessed.

Christmas Eve Part 1

and I smile.

Through life's valleys there is peace. Joy. To understand the Reason for the Season. Yes, I do so miss being with my parents on this Day Before. The hustle bustle of last minute gift wraps.Decisions of what cookies to munch on and which ones to leave out for Santa and his 8 tiny reindeer. In later years to just enjoy being with my Dad, look at the twinkling lights on our tree, and still munch on cookies.

So on this Night Before this Birthday Like No Other, I'm being a bit more selfish than usual, so please indulge me as I post my utmost favorite Christmas songs. Hallelujah for YouTube! And ALWAYS remember how blessed YOU are.
And I smile.

Whitney Houston back when it was all hers:

Luther Vandross who still touches me:

Nat King Cole doing my all time favorite: