Christmas with the Crazies

I had the opportunity to spend Christmas with my family this year or as I call them, The Crazies.

It's not everyday that you see my family all in the same room, in fact it's not anyday. Once a year I attempt to get everyone together for either Thanksgiving or Christmas.

This usually ends in diaster.

It seems to depend on me whether or not we will all be in the same room each year, because I live a couple hours away and don't get to visit much. It's always made me laugh that my family are all minutes away from each other, but they never care to be in the same room together. They need a reason to see each other during the holidays and that reason is usually me coming to town. I guess it makes sense as I see all of them the least and I never have a lot of time to spend, but it's never a stress-free day.

However, this year was about as good as it gets.

Here's what happened...

Dec. 24th
10:00pm - I begin the drive up to my hometown of Yucca Valley, CA.

Dec. 25th
12:30am - I arrive at my Grandmother/Sister's place and see my beautiful niece.

3:00am -  After a couple hours of mingling I hit the hay, but not before reading the first 20 pages of a screenplay I had to write coverage on. Yes, I worked a bit on Christmas.

7:00am - I get up, make coffee, and have some breakfast.

8:00am - My Grandma, Sis, and niece wake up and we open some presents. My little 1 1/2 year old niece got plenty of toys!

9:00am -  After playing with my niece, Phelonie is her name(don't get me started), for a bit I got ready to head over to my Mom's where we were all meeting to eat. I thought me and my Sis would head over early and help her with the cooking.

9:15am - I wait for my Sister to get ready.

9:30am - My dad asks me to pick him up and drive him to my Mom's. I say, "Sure, I'm just waiting for Sis."

10:00am - Still waiting for my Sis.

10:15am - My Mom calls asking me to pick up a few things from the store.

10:30am - Wait for Sis.

11:00am - Sis is still not ready! I decide to go to the store, pick up my Dad, and meet everyone at Mom's.

11:30am - Arrive at my Dad's. He's not ready!  He is however slightly drunk... at 11:30am. I realize why he wanted me to pick him up.

12:00pm - Wait for my Dad. Get annoyed.

12:30pm - Finally get him out the door.

12:45pm - Arrive at my Mom's. We're the first ones there. Food is ready.

1:00pm - Wait for people. Pick at food. Dad drinks more. Mom complains about Dad being drunk.

1:30pm - Sis, Grahams, and Gramps finally arrive. We eat! Food is yummy. I pour some champagne.

2:00pm - Eat and converse. Dad runs out of beer and drinks the rest of the champagne.

2:15pm - Mom gets ancy and wants people to leave. Grahams and Dad have a few nasty words.

2:30pm - We open more presents and eat more food. My stomach almost bursts.

3:00pm - Dad complains that there is no alcohol in the house.

3:15pm - Dad passes out. Mom is super ancy for people to leave. We play with Phelonie.

3:45pm - I help clean up and do some dishes.

4:30pm - We say our farewells. I take Dad home and head back to my Grandma/Sister's.

9:30pm - After some sleep and some good conversation with my Grahams, I hit the road.

Dec. 26th
12:30am - After 3 horrible hours of pouring rain and not being able to see which lane I'm in, I make it home.

Reflecting back, I realize that this was the tamest Christmas that we have ever had. Sure, Mom got a bit annoyed, Dad got a bit drunk, Gramps was a little grouchy, but all went well compared to Christmas' past. That day love filled the air. My family hasn't had much through the years, but one thing there was never a shortage of was love and I know that my niece, little Phelonie, felt the love that day. I think she has done something incredible, brought a little peace and new love to... The Crazies.