I’m exhausted. You too?
Girl, I know what you mean!
The holiday “sleep deprivation hang-over” has made its appearance. He’s rested upon my eyelids and put the full amount of his weight down too. I tried taking a nap, hoping he’d get bored and go find somebody else to bother but that didn’t happen. He’s still here – just moved over from my eyes to my shoulder. Now, he’s found a comfortable spot and is just sitting there taunting me – making me doze while stopped at traffic lights and stuff like that. He has sworn that he will not go away until I get a full night’s sleep without interruption.
What a joke. Doesn’t he know I have three kids?
Sleep certainly hasn’t happened in the past week – what with the kids’ tummies full of butterflies over what Santa is bringing ’em and all. Every night has been punctuated by something – an anxious kid needing some warm milk, a last minute late night movie run with the women in my family, or up on Christmas eve “waiting for Santa” (wrapping all the presents).
At some point I hope to oblige Mr. Hang-over but until then, the holidays continue.
They never end in my family. We drag it on as long as we possibly can. They start with a women’s tea that all the girls in the family have together at a local restaurant. Then they continue when my siblings, our spouses and my parents have a special, fancy dinner at a nice spot (we’ve done this since I was a kid) and a late showing flick. It continues on Christmas day – at my mom’s house all day long, eating her food and enjoying fellowship. We all talk and cause a ruckus until the wee hours of the morning, and then fall asleep sprawled somewhere – anywhere that we can find a spot. It’s absolute joyful chaos as we’re all packed into the same house I grew up in – but instead of just being 2 parents and 4 kids, there are 13 grandkids to boot. You should see us all layered on top of each other like lasagna noodles. There’s nothing restful about it for the adults, but it’s just the fun that is “Christmas”.
Then, the women drag their exhausted selves to the “day-after-Christmas” sales and try to grab anything they can, eat dinner together and then head to another movie.
It’s fun but. . . .Mr. Hangover has overstayed his welcome.
I’d like to oblige his demands for sleep but it’ll have to wait cause New Year’s Day is coming. And in my family, this is no small thing.
Every year, since as long as I can remember, we’ve descended upon my maternal grandparents’ home to celebrate. Their tiny house is crowded from the kiddle to the caboose with my mother’s 7 siblings and their families. It’s nuts. . .but the traditional Guyanese food is tasty and the time spent together in devotions and fellowship with one another is worth it. And since, my grandparents didn’t celebrate Christmas on Dec 25 for reasons I don’t quite known, Jan. 1st is “their” highlighted day. So, we have Christmas all over again – fit with a tree, lights, gifts and all. Every single kid in my family thinks that Christmas is a two day event – once on the 25th and another on the 1st. Boy, are they in for a rude awakening.. . .but that’s another story.
Then, with a full belly and an even more full heart on January 1, I’ll fall into bed early and wake up late – sending Mr. Hang-over on his way once and for all.
We’ll see how well that works out ;)What are your holiday traditions?Priscilla
