Tonight we followed the same pattern as we have for quite a few Christmas Eves. The early Christmas Eve Mass at QAS was as predictable as could be—the same music as we’ve had for many years (O Come All Ye Faithful, choir singing Mary Had a Baby at offertory, Silent Night during communion, Hark the Herald Angels Sing as recessional). After mass I prepared the spinach, beans, and potatoes I learned from a dear, old friend many, many Christmas Eves ago. The dish connects me in spirit to our friends far away and, by extension, to the traditions of their family. Somehow the dish strikes me as quintessentially Sicilian. At any rate it’s delicious and reasonably healthful. This year I prepared it as well as I ever have.
After dinner I walked the dogs, wrapped a few gifts, and now we’re preparing to turn in. In all honesty I’m rather glum and distracted this Christmas. I can’t seem to get into the spirit.
I’m sorry to hear it, Dave. Christmas Eve Day was pretty awesome for me this year. We managed to get all the Christmas preparations ready before today, so in the morning, we went and saw “Avatar”. After that, it was fish-and-chips (one of my favorites), and then later the big family party that I haven’t missed in at least 20 years. I also found out that one of my friends got a few days off to come home from military duty in Florida, so I’m going to spend some good time with him on saturday.