Christmas Lunch At The Tea Room

The call went out . . . Christmas lunch at the Tea Room on Monday . . . Since each one has places to go and things to do this Christmas, we braved the teeming rain and met for lunch. One group came in and sat at the table looking over the menu, got up and left, no hamburgers or friend food served there, so . . . they left, and we had our section of the Tea Room all to ourselves so could be as noisy as we liked. Dee, who is the friendliest and best waitress in town, and our special friend, took our orders then hovered over us like a Mother Hen with her Chickens. She made sure we got the biggest and best of what we ordered, and had a laugh out of the fact we ordered light so we could partake of the beautiful pies and the three tiered chocolate cake sitting in the bakery case. Fattening, of course, but who is counting calories on a Christmas Monday.

Peat loves to work with wood and this year he made special bowls filled with fruit made from different kinds of woods which he carves and polishes. He worked eighty hours alone on making the fruits to fill the bowls. We saw some of the finished products and his family members are going to be very happy Christmas morning. He took time to make salt and pepper sets out of myrtle and manzenita woods for us. My set looks like tiny Christmas trees and very festive on my table. Dee bought each of us delightful rich smelling candles, housed in a tin, each with a different aroma that will fill our homes with a fresh and delightful smell. Mine is vanilla so you know everyone is going to think I am baking up a storm . . . I have been, but now the wonderful smell of vanilla will permeate the air as I sit and read my first fantasy book which, by the way, I am finding delightful. Maggie had already delivered her gifts to all of us, so we have to wait for Christmas morning to find out what 'Santa' left. John looked on with a big grin and his Bah Humbug attitude about decorating Christmas Eve and taking it down Christmas Day . . . 'presents' . . . bah humbug! Although he usually comes through with some wonderful surprises.

As you can tell, Peat is a man of choice words. He and Darlene thought the defusser was beautiful and wondered about the sticks of smell . . . he did say he is allergic to some smells but didn't put a name to one, and he hoped the note saying it was 'ocean smells' meant "good, ocean smells!". His reaction to the package of Harry and David delights, which Pat had given them, got a big laugh . . . Peat looked at Darlene and said, "and be sure you leave those behind". He wasn't taken any chances of sharing those with his large family on Christmas day, after all he would be coming home to an empty house and needed to know there was some goodies to devour when he settled down in the after glow of Christmas eating. Dee loved her new French -Press coffee pot and my latest book, "Collage". She came and gave me a hug saying she was hoping I'd give her another book as she loved the last one I gave her. It's so nice to have a fan.

No one knew son John was going to join us so there were no gifts for him unless you call all of those hugs he got coming and going and in between. John is a favorite and Peat is always happy to have him there so he isn't the only male around. Of course he is the Sultan of the group and not unhappy with the title, although I am sure he has some private thoughts when the 'gaggle of geese' start in on some of the female delights that come to the surface. Darlene showed off her new Elvis Presley Christmas album and Peat had the nerve to say, 'well I didn't like him . . . but . . . he did sing a couple of songs I liked'. Outrageous, The King, how could anyone not like the gyrations of that hip swinger from way back when. I told Peat that is what I did like about him and that got a laugh.

We all miss daughter Pat who had taken off for Oakland and her first Christmas visit to her daughter's home. We were all invited but John was caught up in his work project and I am not as 'spry' as I 'used' to be, so walking around would have been exciting and fun but it would have slowed the pace down to a crawl and that would not be fun. Pat has been wanting to see Erin dance at the clubs and spend some alone time with her. It has been a hellish and busy year for both of them and this was a chance to celebrate each other. It is strange not to have them here but knowing they are having a special Christmas together doing things they love to do makes me content and happy. I am going to 'home' cook for John who usually eats on the run and we will have a day to remember. Pat bought him a special movie I am dying to see, now if I don't sleep through it . . . well, that is what octogenarians do.

So, I hope that you have tea parties to go to this week as you prepare for Christmas Day. I hope you find family and friends to share time with and enjoy all of the hullabaloo of a birthday celebration . . . Happy Birthday Jesus, thank YOU for sharing it with all of us, we are hoping you have many more. ---- Make today a good one, put a jaunt in your step and a twinkle in your eye and find reasons to smile----- a lot.