My Christmas secret

 

Spectacular view from our rental property.

Sorry I didn’t post before about a Christmas trip to Santa Fe with my family, but I never like to advertise that Sophie is home alone, except for a pet sitter. The whole family went to Santa Fe for six days and had a glorious time. Here are my notes on the highlights:

--On an overnight stop in Amarillo, seventeen-year-old Jacob offered to share a room with Juju. We got along perfectly.

Me and Jacob

Me and Susan Tweit

--On Christmas Eve, we entertained guests. I know author/botanist Susan Tweit through an online writers’ group, but it was a delight to meet her in person. Tina Miracle is an old friend from Fort Worth—lots of shared memories. Her husband Jay is a new friend we all like a lot. Proud of how the grands welcomed these guests and introduced themselves. A really great evening. Our guests brought eggnog and hot buttered rum—can’t beat that for conviviality.

White Elephant exchange

--Christmas morning pandemonium included a White Elephant gift exchange.

--Watching oldest son and his daughter laboriously make my mother’s yeast-rising rolls and realizing that much of what was being cooked Christmas Day was what Mom cooked for holidays.

Maddie, me, and Trevor

--Reconnecting in an adult way with my oldest grandchild, Maddie, and her boyfriend, who fits right into the family. 

--All seventeen of us standing in a rough, lopsided circle, holding hands, while my oldest son asked the blessing before Christmas dinner

--Christmas dinner, when all the grands came spontaneously to sit at my table, along with SIL Brandon.

Me and the grands

--Dinner at La Fonda with grown-up kids at an adjoining table eating with manners and dignity. Our upscale night out in a nostalgic and lovely setting.

--Lunch at the Tesuque Market—a four-hour experience in a funky place because we met a bartender named Juju (my grandmother name) who was a delight--and apparently made great margarita. Tuna sandwich was the best thing I ate on the whole trip, and I hadn’t had even one margarita.

--Having my grown kids take such good care of me and my walker, especially on stairs that terrified me. Santa Fe is not ADA friendly.

It was a wonderful trip that leaves me lots of memories to treasure. Yes, I’m glad to be back home. I always am. I’m not an easy traveler, and the altitude, stairs, and snow seemed united against me. But the joys far overshadowed those small nuisances. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Sophie is glad we're home, and I've told her I won't be going anywhere soon.