Day One Hundred and Thirty-One....Sometimes it's You

So it's the holiday time and so much goes on with family dynamics. I remember as a child that my grandma used to always bring hard as a rock fruit cake to my Aunt and Uncle's for Christmas. My Aunt and Uncle did not like hard as rock fruit cake...but could they really tell my grandma that? Then there was always someone who drank too much and told stories that would totally embarrass someone. Inevitably, someone would receive a gift that was unwanted. My family was and is very colorful and when I was young, I couldn't wait to see who would say or do something that was not totally appropriate. It always happened.....and I always got to giggle and when I became a teenager. I got to roll my eyes with either embarrassment or disdain. What family doesn't have a little drama at the holidays?!?

So, this year that person was......ME!!! We were invited to our friends annual holiday open house. We always look forward to it. Great friends...a lot of laughter...and totally to die for fab food. The Hubby and Running Stud were going for a bike ride this Christmas morning and they had their route all planned out....a nice two hour bike ride. They were getting a late start and The Big Kahuna (me) told them "gotta shorten your ride...we have to be dressed and out by 11:15 to get there by 12:00" The Hubby's reply..."I think the party starts at 1:00" "No..it's 12:00...don't be late." So my ever so compliant Hubby did as was suggested (told) by me, The Big Kahuna, and made it back, showered and was ready to go by 11:25.

We got to the party house promptly at 12:00 and there were no cars there.. I was proud that we were on time and the first ones there!!!! We rang the buzzer to get in and we were greeted by the party hostess....."You guys are a bit early..we are exchanging gifts...I hope it won't make you feel uncomfortable"......I WANTED TO DIE!!! My kids all rolled their eyes and whispered.."good one mom" (couldn't really blame them). I said we could come back and she insisted we stay. The ever so fab food wasn't out yet, the host explained (didn't think he needed to apologize!) . I sat in the back of the room and watched them exchanging their gifts with the great grandparents, grandparents and kids...it was sweet to see and I felt a bit more close to my already close friends. We ended up hanging and spending quality time which we would not have had if we were on time. We had exclusive rights to the party host and hostess. We got to eat the ever so fab food with no one else cutting in line and not judging us for pigging out...so sometimes it's worth it to be the faux-pah!!! Oh, I didn't mention that The Hubby never told me..."I told you so" ( I so would have said that)!!!!

Why listen to Wolffie? Because I get it. I wish that I could say that I have never been the faux-pah before...but that would be a big fat lie. I wish I could blame my being the faux-pah because of my menopausal brain....but that would be a lie. Lets go back 23 years. The Hubby and I were engaged and we were on the wedding circuit. We had a wedding to go to of a high school buddy of mine. It was July and the wedding was in the San Fernando Valley. It was blistering hot and my Fiance wasn't too keen on getting dressed up in a suit and tie. We got to the wedding and we walked in, signed the guest book and I dropped our gift at the present table.We were milling around the room waiting for the ceremony to start. Where were my friends?!? I looked around the room and didn't recognize anybody. I got this sinking feeling that I was at the wrongwedding. I asked someone and I was correct in my assumption. I WANTED TO DIE!!! We fled the scene, got into the air conditioned car...and I remembered....."Oh Shit, I left the gift"!!! My ever so calm Fiance replied, "I'll wait while you get it". REALLY?!? I went in, hijacked the gift and ran out of there as fast as I could in my high heels...It was a sight that would have gotten mega hits on you tube!!!!! Can you imagine the bride and groom reading the guestbook thinking.."Who is Wolffie and Fiance"?!?!?! My buddy's wedding was actually the next week...and it was beautiful...and a much better crowd...maybe because I knew the bride, groom and the guests!!!!

Can you relate? More will be revealed.

Signing off until we meet again. Please come back for more.

In Love and Peace,

Wolffie

Day One Hundred and Thirty.....Tis the Season to be?

Hi. Tis the season to be....?

I often wonder why it is that with the spirit of giving, people are CRAZY and MEAN!! I find that the stress of making the holidays perfect for loved ones...people forget that strangers are trying to do the same thing. So, please don't cut me off on the freeway. Please don't cut in line at the market. Please don't scowl while I am doing a bank deposit that might take a bit longer. Please don't take the shirt I was about to buy for my son who REALLY wanted it (I found something else). Please don't take my parking spot at the mall that I had been waiting for FOREVER (and I might add that my blinker was on). I guess what I am trying to say is, get your head our of your ass and CHILL.

I used to be one of those "I have to get things done, buy the best gifts, make my house oh so perfect" holiday peeps. Then a few years ago, I had to take a step back and realize I was miserable and I was bringing my loved ones down the misery road with me!!! Heavy sigh. I cut down on the amount of gifts I bought my kids. Who am I in competition with? Do my kids think I love them any less if I don't shower them with crap they don't need? I saw them open their gifts with no realization as to what they were getting because they were on to the next gift. So three instead of eight or nine really made them aware of what they were getting and I really picked things that I knew they would like.

This year will be a year of 3 gift year again, yummy food, and feeling blessed that my kids are around. They still want to hang with me and the hubby which for me is the best gift of all.! They don't have the look in their eyes or the attitude of: "Why am I here with my folks when I could be anywhere but here"? I'll take this gift every year...unwrapped!!!

Why listen to Wolffie? Because I get it. My birthday is on Christmas Eve. It is not the best day to be born if you want the focus on you, you, you!!! As a kid, my folks gave me 1/2 birthday parties in June so my pals could come to my parties. It was great. As a grown-up, my birthday has been coined "Wendy-Eve" (cute,,,huh!!!). I do like the attention..I do like the gifts...but now I really enjoy spending time with my kids and hubby. I used to want a big fuss made for me, over me and about me..and I was always let down. No one could ever meet my expectations!!!! Hell, I could never meet my over indulgent expectations!!! So, now I don't have any... well one....to be with my family. I don't care what we do.....I just want us to be together.....with no yelling and bickering....just love and good cheer (is this an expectation?!?)

Age has taught me not to look beyond what is in front of me. To expect things will only lead to disappointment. I try to look what's smack dab in front of me and enjoy.

Tis the season to........enjoy life, laugh often and be grateful for all the blessing I have.

Can you relate? More will be revealed.

Please come back for more. Signing off until we meet again.

In Love and Peace,

Wolffie