I just love it all. There's a couple of traditions that have developed in the last few years since I left for college that have become really dear to me...
-On Christmas Eve, my dad and I always go to Southpoint Mall - the last mall built in North Carolina, around eight years ago - about 8 in the morning. We always get coffee at this one little place, always wander around even if we don't buy anything at a particular store, and most of the time we see a movie before we leave (last year's was
True Grit - a wonderful movie for Christmastime, I feel). And we always stop at the big pet store to get stuff to spoil all the animals in our lives with.
-I listen to John Henry Faulk's Christmas story, which you can hear right here (suitable for work and little ears):
It's just one of the most amazing things I've ever heard. Faulk was true blue.
-My mom has gotten up there in age, and my sister generally wraps presents to get into the holiday spirit. So - I do the tree. The whole thing, by myself. We buy it, put it up - and then I like to surprise them by doing it at night so when they wake up in the morning, it's there. I get so much joy out of seeing the tree lit up at nighttime when all the other lights are off.
There's so many more where that came from. I love this whole beautiful season.