Slower pace is generally welcome

Did you have a good Thanksgiving? It was quiet around here. It was a holiday, so I gave myself the day off. We had chicken instead of turkey or ham for dinner. I didn’t make dressing as I am the only one who likes it. I didn’t fix green bean casserole as neither of us likes it. I did make a pan of the worst brownies I’ve ever made.

Once I tried the brownies I realized just why the mix had been on sale. They tasted like bitter, unsweetened cocoa. Even though I thought they were awful, my hubby liked them.

My brother, David, his wife, Apryl and their son, Jadyn stopped by on Sunday. Apryl and Jadyn tried the brownies and thought they were good. Thankfully, they each had more than one piece. Maybe next time I’ll make them from scratch instead of from a bargain mix.

I also made some banana bread. That turned out a lot better. I had bought too many bananas last week, knowing that they would go bad before they were used up. Warm banana bread topped with real butter is a lot tastier than bitter brownies.

I am in the middle of cleaning off a bookcase and have paperbacks in piles all over the kitchen table. Apryl picked out a couple that she meant to take home. They are still in the kitchen. I hope I can remember to take them with me at Christmas.

We went to lunch at a local restaurant. Our brother, Michael, and his wife met us there. We caught up with each other’s lives and had a good meal.

When everyone was talked out and getting ready to go home, I asked what we were doing for Christmas. They all looked at each other and said they didn’t care. The ‘I don’t care’ routine can last for what seems like forever. It’s like coming to a four-way stop and whoever has the right of way will wave at any other car at the intersection. Then the other driver waves back. This can go on until both cars start to move at the same time. Then the routine begins again.

I piped up and said we should have it at David and Apryl’s. They agreed. I think we moved the actual date because it conflicted with their other plans. Apryl will eventually tell us what to bring, what time to be there and any other things we should know.

One thing I will not be bringing is bargain brownies.

I am hoping to get at least some of the Christmas shopping done this week. As usual, my daughter, Beth, has told me what to get for the kids. Granddaughter Emma has taken up sewing. I have an old sewing basket that I plan to give her. I can fill it with odds and ends such as a proper pair of shears, straight pins and other stuff. She has asked for novelty buttons, zippers, and lots of elastic. I have no idea what she intends to make.

Beth told me she bought some Nerf guns for the boys and said that ammunition would be a perfect present for them. She even sent me a picture of what kind to buy. I would rather not arm them but I realize they know enough to be safe.

It seems like the holidays get quieter every year. A long time ago, we would have never stayed home on Thanksgiving and Christmas. We would hurry to get to one side of the family, eat too much and then hurry to the other side of the family to do it all over again.

There would be shopping trips to search for that perfect present and more wrapping paper than I knew I had. The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas would be filled to the brim with one activity after the other.

Sometimes I miss all the activity. Most days I welcome our slower paced lives. We had a quiet Thanksgiving and are hoping for an equally peaceful Christmas.