CHRISTMAS JUST WON'T BE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT

My Christmas mixtape.

For some families, the day after Thanksgiving is for Black Friday shopping and decorating the Christmas tree. At my house, the day after Thanksgiving meant that it was socially acceptable for my mom to have our taped-from-TV version of White Christmas on continuous play. We could also listen to Christmas music. In the 80s and 90s, my dad devoted lots of time to making mix tapes. Our Christmas house blend combined my mom's and dad's favorites with a heaping side of Elvis.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

THE PEACE LIGHT IS ON

The street I grew up on was never really one for Christmas lights. A few people put them up, and we used to too, until untangling the ball of lights was more trouble that it was worth. Our azaleas have been naked since. However, there is one reliable holiday light fixture on our block. Without fail, every December the Mochows turn on a light in their attic and illuminate a small, street-facing, alcove window that had been blacked out to read "Peace" with a star under it.

Happy Holidays.

THE RABBIT'S LAST HURRAH

Before we got our cat, we had a real Christmas tree. When I was little, we always drove the Rabbit to pick out tree. The car was old and orange and my dad didn't care if the tree scratched any of the paint on the roof. After we picked out the fullest, best smelling tree, it got tied to the roof, and we drove on home. The car had a manual transmition so my dad needed both hands for driving. It fell to my mom to prevent the tree from flying off the car. She would put an old leather work glove on her left hand, stick her arm out of the sun roof and hold onto to the tree trunk for dear life. This was almost as ridiculous as the ordeal of getting the tree inside the house. Dad would attach the stand in the garage and cut it free from its plastic net. Then he would bear-hug the tree and carry it through the house, performing a loping waltz from room to room as mom ran before him moving end tables and breakable things out of the way.

I was really sad when we had to get rid of the Rabbit.  I had always imagined that it would be the car that I would learn to drive with. I might have even asked my dad if we could just leave it in the backyard and grow grass on it. That wasn't happening either. Its passing didn't go unnoticed. Dad compromised, and in its final winter we rimmed all of the Rabbit's windows with battery powered Christmas lights.  

how's the car doing? (or the benefits of cleaning)

When I was in college, my dad always asked me about my grades. Without fail. The question was sometimes oddly formal, and so frequent, that I got him a t-shirt from the bookstore that said, "Dad says, 'Buckle down and study hard.'" Now that I'm no longer taking exams and writing papers, he can't ask me that. But, he's found a new question. "How's the car doing?" I'm pretty sure he's convinced I'll kill it. Whenever I go home, I usually make a mad dash for the bathroom (after spending the better part of a day in the car.) While I'm in the house, Dad is outside walking around the car looking for the latest dent or scrape. I'll own up to driving over the odd curb or rubbing against a mailbox post, but that's usually it.

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD.

Dad, I cleaned the car this week. It's no longer functioning as a third closet. And, I found the A and C that used to be part of the ACCORD on the back of the trunk. A long time ago, I accidentally broke them off, and I was convinced they were lost in some parking lot. Another strike against me in car maintenence and care. I got some super glue, and  now I no longer drive a CORD LX.

I also found this lovely little woodcut I received as a Christmas card. I'd been looking for it earlier this week, but couldn't find it anywhere in my apartment. Clearly. BECAUSE IT WAS IN MY CAR. My friend Rachel carved it. She's a talented printmaker and adventurous cook. She's got a great blog that chronicles the art making with a side of recipes. Check it out here.

It was a pretty good evening. I have an empty car, a completely named car, and my missing print!