2024-12-19: almost christmas

the postal strike's resolved, for now. but everyone, including me, has been making arrangements with the couriers instead, who're swamped. but the packages slowly get through. two days ago, i got a beautiful little wintery flower arrangement from my dad and gran: red and white flowers in amongst greenery and pine cones. it's now sitting in the centre of my dining room table. and yesterday, a package from my aunt out east: shortbreads topped with slivered almonds (my great-grandmother's recipe), homemade raspberry jam, an iced fruitcake, paper ornaments from local artisans, a bit of chocolate. her usual christmas gift, & one we look forward to every year.

my own packages for people should be arriving soon. gift baskets of treats and dainties. a few extra presents, too: sports car and manga stuff for my nephews, a little gift certificate for my brother, who lives with roommates, but otherwise alone, and who won't be seeing the rest of my family until closer to the new year.

and outside, all the snow for the white christmas we didn't have last year, when we were sitting on a beach in punta cana. which i miss right now, but there's something about snow that makes christmas feel right. i don't know how people in warmer climates do it. it must just feel like any other day.

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