Christmas Reflections and Passions: Thriving on Chaos???

I have been looking forward to Christmas Eve for weeks. In my family, Christmas Eve is the time we celebrate with extended family: my parents (when they were alive), my siblings and their families. When my mom’s health began to deteriorate years ago, the three of us children began a custom of rotating the celebration from one house to another. I was so happy this year to celebrate it in my new “old” house. I was also especially excited that my nephew and his wife from New York would be in attendance this year and would be bringing with them, his Greek- American mother-in-law, Mary and brother-in-law Nickolias, both from Brooklyn.

I actually tried to make it “easy” on myself and plan a simple menu for what would be around 15 people in my very medium-sized home. I planned a traditional and seafood lasagna, salad bar and various appetizers and desserts. When my boss at work, who as the Executive General Manager of a large convention center and hotel, masquerades as my own personal gourmet international food consultant, inquired of my menu plans, it was obvious my plans were not up to par. He shook his head, in fact, in disdain.

“Sus-sun,” he began. (This is me, a Southerner, imitating his middle eastern inflection…) You need tu du some-sing to honor de Gricks. You need tu du a lamb. A leg of lamb.”

“I have NO IDEA how to do that.” Inside I was thinking… “I have SO MUCH to do between now and Christmas Eve! There is NO WAY I have time to add ONE MORE THING to my List…” But I listened carefully as he explained to me that they sold legs of lamb at Costco- a stop still on my shopping list, how to cut tiny slivers with a sharp knife into the lamb’s skin and how to stuff slivers of garlic and rosemary into the slits.

So, the day before Christmas Eve, I fought the mad crowds at my local Costco to procure the lamb, and as I pulled back into my driveway, I noticed my single neighbor, whom had planned to be out of town with friends, was still at home. A sinus infection had him grounded. I couldn’t bear the thought of him being “alone” Christmas Eve. “Please come share Christmas Eve with us”, I begged. “There will be plenty to eat and there are other out of town guests so you won’t feel out of place…I gave him the details, including the menu, the “Gricks”, and the story about the lamb. “I think I understand how to prepare it,“ I said “But I have no idea, really how to cook it…”

“I can do it on my rotisserie!”, he said. ”I’ve cooked one before.”

Perfect! So with a little help from my friend, the meal came together perfectly!

And more than the meal being “perfect”, everyone seemed to have a GREAT time. 15, make that 16 people, gathered around two tables. The house was filled with warmth and love, lively conversation and laughter, the excitement of little children, family, friends and guests exchanging stories and pleasantries, the normal chaos of my animals ( 3 dogs, 4 cats and a bird) along with my sister’s miniature poodle, Bella, who becomes more and more comfortable with my brood with very visit.

My sister, knowing how stressed I had been for the last while gave me a beautiful red throw with a perfect message. It had a snowman on it and said, “Everyone deserves a melt down now and then…” a PERFECT gift for me considering the craziness that has been the days leading up to Christmas, and more honestly, the days that are my LIFE.

She explained to her son’s mother-in-law, “My sister thrives on chaos.“

I thought about that, wondering if it were TRUE.

I certainly feel a need to claim more calm in my life sometimes, and the disparity between me and my poor husband for whom I would never, EVER say “thrives on chaos” is sometomes an ever-widening chasm. He thrives on quiet and order and a steady diet of NPR…

How difficult he must find it to live with me sometimes!

But more than “thriving on chaos”, I DO thrive on letting each chapter of my life unfold like a book I have never read before. To this day, I don’t know if this book that is my life is a comedy or a tragedy, and those of you who read my blogs know it runs the gamut from one day to another. I DO believe God puts before us opportunities every day for which we can affirm or negate, people we can choose to help or ignore. When given the choice of an organized trip or an adventure filled with detours, you can count me in for the side trips. When my life is over, I don’t want to feel I’ve missed any opportunities. If it means taking roads less traveled, you can bet that’s the way I’m going to go.

I received two extra special gifts last night from my nephew and niece. One was a beautiful ceramic “Tanzine“, a Moroccan cooking devise for which I have absolutely no clue how to use. But no worries- I will learn! As an ode to my love of International Cuisine and at the prodding of my boss, I have no doubt, it will lead to more food, fellowship and adventures with friends and families.

The other, and probably the most cherished gift I received was a beautiful MOMA Christmas Card which showed an igloo with a mother and child snuggled on one side and a father fishing on the other. Inside was inscribed, “To My Spirit Mother and her family.” Now, let me say, my nephew is much smarter than me, more ambitious than me, more adventurous than me, but I hold my own with him when it comes to messing up a kitchen, creative writing, problem solving, sharing a passion for good design and a shortness of stature! LOL! But that he calls me “Spirit Mother”, (and has since he became an adult) means the world to me. That there is perhaps a little piece of me that exists somewhere in a little part of his spirit is something that feels miraculous and makes me feel happy about my life and the way I choose to live it, chaotic or not. It makes me GLAD that I don’t know what the next chapter of my life will bring.

So from my big -sometimes happy but often hectic -household, from my southern roots to my global ambitions, from my adopted menagerie of children, friends and furballs, I wish you all a Big Christmas!

(BIG, as “big in your hearts“, where it is the ONLY place that size matters!!! LOL!)

Merry Christmas 2011, to ALL my friends and to ALL, a good night!

Xxoo

Susan