The Christmas Eve party was a big hit. All that homemade food was much enjoyed! The handmade gifts were well received, and I even got Jessica Seinfeld’s groovy new cookbook.

My in-laws just left our home. Their flight back to Ohio was cancelled (OMG!) and they are now driving back. Like previous visits, this one had its moments of testiness, but I was truly sad to see them leave. When I heard there flight was cancelled, I was momentarily happy thinking that that would mean I’d get a bonus day with them. But it instead means a day of hassles for them–going to the airport to try to finagle another flight home (not likely on Christmas) or swapping cars for one they can drive home. It’s at least a 17 hour drive.

I wish they lived closer so that visits didn’t have to be so intense; that we could pop in for dinner or at least a weekend visit. But what we have is a good relationship, no matter what the distance. And this trip I learned to know my sister-in-law a lot better. And she is no longer an annoying adolescent but a budding mature adult. That’s probably the best gift I got this year.

My favorite gift for Sun came from my parents–they gave her a necklace and ring that are family heirlooms. But here’s the catch. I told my mother many times over the years that I wasn’t having children, that it just wasn’t in the cards for me. And she stopped asking when and what names and all those questions that drove me nuts. I figured she finally got my message and accepted what I told her.

But I have eight nieces and nephews; eight grandchildren to whom she could have given these items. But she didn’t. She waited, patiently. And she believed in Sun’s existence even when I didn’t. And I get now why she waited. She’s a mother. And she knew her daughter better than her daughter knew herself.

I’d say it was one banner Christmas all around.