Mamacita says:  More than any other event or day, Christmas ought to be full of tradition and memories, and fraught with a kind of “sameness” that tells each generation that “Christmas is here.”  I know I am the yellow M&M here, but the thought of Christmas on a cruise ship or in a mountain cabin or in Hawaii or any other place other than where it’s always been, is horrifying to me, because Christmas belongs at home, surrounded by familiar things brought out only in December, and later at the home of the grandparents, where we are all surrounded by THEIR things brought out only in December.  I still believe that Christmas calls people “home.”  Or ought to.

This year, we are celebrating Christmas Eve with my MIL, as always.  We will celebrate Christmas Morning at home, as always.  But instead of heading out to Grandmother’s house for Christmas afternoon, we are all heading north to my Other Sister’s house.  Nobody minds doing this because there is an excellent reason for it this year:  we’ll have a brand-new precious grandchild/cousin/niece//great-niece/great-grandchild, far too new to travel, to coo over, and this makes having Christmas Afternoon in a different place okay this year.

I’m all for trying new things in almost any context, except for holidays.  But I’m also fully able to appreciate the need for change once in a while, and a brand-new teeny-tiny member of the family is totally worth pulling up holiday roots for.  Besides, I’ve only seen my Other Sister’s Christmas tree twice, and both times it was beautiful to behold.  Her home is lovely, and I know she’s looking forward to hosting our family Christmas this year.  We’re looking forward to it, too.  It’s good for people to do familiar things differently sometimes; it just hurts a bit to be pulled up by the roots.

If ever I win a Christmas Cruise, I’ll give it away; the very idea of a “vacation Christmas” is abhorrent.  I wouldn’t mind a New Year’s Cruise, or a Fourth of July Cruise, or perhaps a September weekend in Hawaii, but having Christmas Day where we’ve never had it before?  I admit it:  I’m torn.  Please, family, cut me some slack, while I try really hard to enjoy the day and not be a drag for anybody else.   I really and truly am looking forward to seeing everyone for Christmas, wherever it might be.  And a new baby is always worth changing one’s stagnant ways for!

I also hope everyone in the family takes some time to come down and visit our mother and admire her Tree; she puts all that holiday stuff up for us, mainly (although her Red Hats and 49ers will get to see it, too!) and it would make her really happy if all her kids stopped by before the season ends and she has to take it all down again without all of us having seen it and sat amongst it for at least a little while.

Now, family dear, let’s all watch ourselves closely!  If anybody with even the SNIFFLES dares to lean over that new baby, Aunt Jane someone will have something to say about it!  Nobody who is accompanied by sneezes, coughs, or mucus in any form should be near a new baby!  Cover that dirty shirt!  Support her head!  Don’t give her that!  Are you sure she ought to be wearing that?  Shouldn’t you cover her feet?  Where do you keep her receiving blankets?  A little bit won’t hurt her!  Why would you put SHOES on a new baby?  Don’t you know how to hold a baby?  You’ve got to be kidding me!  Should you be letting her do that?  (I’m practicing.  New mothers love advice, right?)  🙂

The excitement of a new baby due any moment is getting to me.  It’s a wonderful contented frustration.

Also?  I call dibs on holding her.  Back off.