Xmas 2007 -- weirdly wonderful

We always spend xmas eve with my husband's mom and brother. We bring the dogs, have a big meal, have a few libations, and tear into the presents while watching Christmas shows--this year was the TV Land Merrython. The dogs woke up that morning somehow knowing something special was going to happen. They were hopping and galumphing, whining any time we opened the front door. I took them hiking in the woods where they were so excited they had to roll in and devour some terrifyingly bad-smelling goo. Katie, our princess, with ick in her teeth. We had to drive home with the windows down. Man, they never do that kind of thing; I can't believe they did it an hour before we were supposed to leave. Ok, 2 baths later we packed up the car and headed to her house.

Dinner was just being set out when we arrived, an amazing thing since normally she has "dinner" at 2 pm without warning us. Somehow she understood this year dinner = evening meal. On the way up we were placing bets as to how far past her dinner hour we would be -- would the food be out and covered? Put away in the fridge with the dishes done? Hidden all over the kitchen in the oven, microwave, fridge, countertop so we miss some things? These have all happened in prior events, so we were stunned to walk in and see her putting the finishing touches on everything. Everything was so tasty, and we had to laugh that the main thing everyone went for seconds on was the broccoli casserole.

Opening presents is a fun yet nervous time at her house. The dogs adore tearing packages open, we've been beating them back from the tree for weeks, so they were beside themselves now that they actually got to do it. After a while they stopped playing with toys and just lay in the big pile of wrapping paper shredding and chewing bits. The nervous part for me is that my MIL is very sweet and wants to get me things I'll like, but she just doesn't know me that well and I always have to put on a hearty wow-thanks attitude. This year started out the same--why do people buy me knit socks and gloves? I proudly wear handknit ones made from my own handspun handdyed yarn. And why does she think peach is my color for sweaters?

But then I opened a gift that actually made me cry, it was so perfect. I'm still stunned she picked it out; it's like nothing she's ever bought me in the 12 years I've known her. The kind of thing that makes a wonderful present, but you'd never ask for. It's recycled blue glass, a disk about 4" in diameter, and the image is in relief. I spent the entire night holding it and running my fingers along the lines of the symbols. She recognized the symbol from my tattoo said she knew I had to have it. Wow, seeing them together is kind of eerie, even the color is the same.