California Christmas 2011

December in L.A. is ripe pomegranates, avocados and citrus and finally the end of the fresh tomatoes. It is the leaves falling off the sycamores, (only to re-foliate themselves in a couple of short months…) It is frost in Topanga and clear, sunny days in the 50s and 60s. It is fake snow and a holiday water fountain at The Grove. It is red bows on the topiaries in Santa Monica. It is holiday tamale season. It is parties. It is cars decorated with wreaths and reindeer antlers. It is movie premiere season and awards hype. It is Las Posadas on Olvera Street with atole and pan dulce. It is lights on palm trees. It is poinsettias growing on the front porch. It is starting to feel familiar to me. This is my third Christmas here. Can’t believe it!

I found myself remembering my old house in the woods in western Maine this week. Back then I made most of my own presents. I even made my own wrapping paper! I remember the light from the grey, snow filled skies, and the crackling sound of the fire against the silence of the frozen winter woods. How far I am from that time now in so many ways! But really, the rhythms of the season, the flurry of activities, and the spirit of warmth and giving and spending lots of time with the family remain, no matter if I am in snowy woods or the strip mall filled San Fernando Valley.

This year we threw a big party on the solstice, which was kind of a feat with an 10 week old. It was a success though and fun was had by all, (I hope!). We had Mexican hot chocolate and glug and overflowing tables of snacks and a fire in the hearth and out in the fire pit in the yard. Torin was passed around the party and managed to fight off sleep until much later than usual. Before that was the gift shipping day to family on the east coast, in which I appeared as a cross between a kangaroo and Santa, with Torin strapped to the front and a massive ikea bag of gifts on my back as I crossed the streets in Santa Monica. Before the party also came a huge grocery shopping expedition with multiple lists and bags piled in the car and more than one nursing session for Torin in the supermarket bathroom as we ran from store to store for several hours to get all of the ingredients for special holiday recipes. Then there was the last minute gift scramble and the longer than it seems like it should be wrapping session. We topped it all off with Christmas Eve Posadas on Olvera Street. There was warmth in the air and children running around and vendors closing shop and restaurants filling up on the oldest street in L.A. as we waited outside the original adobe house there and listened to the musicians in colorful ponchos singing on the porch. Mary and Joseph came out looking somber in their polyester robes and shepherd’s canes. They were followed by singers with candles and then slowly the rest of the crowd fell into step behind them as they walked up and down the street looking for room at the inn. They were, of course, turned away again and again until they finally ended up back at the stables of the oldest house in L.A. The musicians played again, people sang, and then we all had sweet atole and pan dulce on the house. We drove home and fell asleep watching Christmas movies on the couch. Santa roused himself/herself to stuff the stockings and put the last minute gifts out, and then Christmas morning came all too soon. Or not soon enough for my 12 year old stepson, but it came just the same and we had a special breakfast, which is always unappreciated by the children in their haste for unwrapping, and then presents and the carnage of boxes and wrapping paper and packing peanuts etc etc. I haven’t slept well in oh, say, 11 weeks or so at least, but I slept even less last week, and by the time that I had cleaned up yesterday afternoon I had a headache and a cold. I fell asleep before Tim’s amazing homemade lasagna dinner, but I feel much better this morning. Man, Christmas is so much fun….sometimes too much!

I am happy to see that Torin loves Christmas though, even at only 10 weeks old. At least he loves the very best and most important things about Christmas. He loves people and was so entertained to see all the guests at the party, and to see the crowds on Olvera Street. He loves when we are all together as a family too, and enjoyed snuggling together and watching movies. He was so happy Christmas morning with Nick and Brick around and everyone laughing and talking. He got his first dose of the Christmas spirit, and it filled him with gladness, as it should.