I grew up in a small town. Most of my mother’s family lived in that same small town. On Christmas Eve we would gather with the aunts, uncles, and cousins and Grandma and Papa’s house. We had this tradition where if you were the first person to say “Christmas Eve Gift” to someone else then that person had to buy you a special present. Except we never did abide by the gift-giving aspect of that tradition. It was really about bragging rights about “beating” that person that year.

I have very fond memories of arriving at Grandma’s house early and then hiding behind the door or behind the couch and then jumping out at my aunts and uncles when they arrive shouting gleefully “Christmas Eve Gift.” We got so into this game that my mother would answer the phone (and this was before cell phones and caller ID) with the aforementioned phrase just in case it was someone in the family. No doubt surprising many salesmen in the process.

To this day I still play the game with my mother. It is much more difficult now that she knows who is calling. One year I saw that she had sent me a text (this was before I had a smartphone that showed me what the text said on my home screen) but instead of reading it, I sent her one saying that I didn’t know what she had just texted me but that I wished her a very merry Christmas Eve Gift.

This morning I printed out a large note that read:

I have my phone on silent so I cannot hear your voice, so Christmas Eve Gift!

Then I Facetimed her with video on and put the camera up to the note.

And to you my dear friends and readers I wish to you a very merry Christmas Eve Gift and a very Happy Christmas and a super joyful whatever you celebrate.

I will not be posting anything for the next few days as I’m taking some time off to spend with my family. Be well everybody and listen to some good music.