the magic of christmas

i was reading the paper this morning and read a great column. it was very witty. i thought i would copy it here for you to read. i also added a video of the kids coming down the stairs to see what santa left. i dont know what is wrong with my videos, but again the sound is not working. it was cute listening to them talk and show what santa brought. i will try to work on that. enjoy.

"'twas the day after christmas" by diana sholley. the sun

twas the day after christmas, i was alone in the house, off at the movies were the kids and my spouse. the laundry was piled in the hallway with care and i was seriously thinking i'd leave it right there.

dishes were dirty and stacked in the sink and until i get to them, the pile won't shrink. the carpet was matted and heavily stained. just seeing the mess left me thoroughly drained.

when out from the kitchen i heard such a clatter i sprang from my chair to see what was the matter. the dogs were both barking, which left me unstable, they'd chased our black cat to the top of the table!

she hissed and she growled as she fought with her claw then one of the dogs got a nail in the paw. he yelped as he ran. headed straight for the tree, which toppled right over despite my loud plea.

ornaments shattered as the glass hit the floor my anger was mounting, i could take it no more. i needed to leave, take a break from the mess, staying inside would just add to my stress.

a walk in the park, a drive in the car, a trip to the mall, nothing too far. unwanted gifts i could return to the store, first i'd get the receipts then i'd head out the door.

now where did i put them, i can't go without. on my desk? on a counter? i started to pout. did i throw them away? were they out with the trash? i threw on my coat, and i made a mad dash.

the cans that we used were out on the street, i ran over to them in my stocking feet. i tore off the lids and ripped open a bag the smell that came from it forced me to gag.

there were remnants from dinner and breakfast that morn. empty boxes of veggies and a can of sweet corn. a filled huggies diaper from my friends baby girl made me feel kind of nauseous, and i started to hurl.

i passed by some papers i'd forgotten to shred. then lifted my face with a vast sense of dread. the trash truck was coming, no stopping it now, i stared right straight at it and furrowed my brow.

only one thing to do, though not in my plan, i dove to the bottom of that dark, yucky can. i came up empty-handed from my last valiant shot, then the trash truck came by and it took the whole lot.

just at that moment my neighbor drove by she honked and she waived while i wanted to cry. back in the house i went in despair, and flopped myself down in our green easy chair.

i looked at the tree with its bulbs on the floor, and saw something white i hadn't noticed before. an envelope peeked from the gold velvet skirt, bulging with papers! i started to blurt: my receipts! i had found them, i could get my cash back, credit my charges, get into the black. i was just about ready to leave for the store, when i heard mindless chatter coming from my back door.

my family was back, i was no longer alone, i'd have left so much sooner had i only known, because what they exclaimed as they came into sight, "hey mama, we're starvin' what's for dinner tonight?"