all seem to say, throw cares away

Posted December 21st, 2006 by Michelle

Tonight I was wrapping Christmas gifts with my mom, and every second present she’d holler “OOPS” and go into fits of giggles. Often she simply couldn’t remember what the gift was once the last piece of tape was on. Another time she’d pasted two tags on one gift; usually, she couldn’t find the scissors she’d just set down. The ritual of gathering everything I’ve bought for everyone on my wish and wrapping them, one by one, is satisfying, dreamy, and slightly melacholy, because it usually means the big day is only handfuls of hours away.

This year, though, the big gift is little Barnaby, whose enormous bright eyes and massive strength belie his extreme youth. He’s incredible. Sadly, I’ll have to wait until after the holidays to post all of my pics, as I did not bring the proper cord for my new camera, but it will be worth the wait. He often sleeps with one fist curled under his chin, resting his head as if he’s falling asleep in class.

I had an amazing day today, for a number of reasons, but one of them was walking around the Union Square holiday market and picking out perfect little bits for people I love. And holding Barnaby for half an hour as he pondered my face. I love being in a house with so much of my family under one roof, and little Lucy to see tomorrow.

Ah, me. As complicated as the holidays are, for every last one of us on this earth, I think, this was a simple, exciting, lovely day. We should all be so blessed.