I saw this on Blogher and thought it might be fun to switch gears and de-intensify just a bit.
1. Real tree or artificial or treeless? Any special traditions with the tree?
Growing up, we had a silver aluminum tree. We had a color wheel that rotated through the primary colors, shining blue, red, yellow reflections all the way across the canyon. We were on the hill, so you could literally see it in the front window from three streets away. True 60′s-70′s kitsch. I didn’t have a real tree till I was an adult, and then there was Sticks, who is deathly allergic to live Christmas trees. It took us three years of sick, sick Christmases to figure that one out. Now we have one of those cool artificial trees with the prewired lights, and my grandmother’s ornaments as well as all of the ones we’ve made or acquired over the years. I love our tree.
2. Eggnog or Cider or Mulled Wine?
Eggnog, if I have to. None of the above. Starbucks’ Christmas Blend (especially this years’, which is excellent), definitely.
3. Spiritual or Secular celebration?
Both. Christmas Eve is church services; Christmas day is food, presents, fun. We go to my mom’s house on Christmas Eve, too, so it’s a busy couple of days, but nice.
4. Favorite Christmas music?
Classical — The Messiah, Bach, etc.
5. One special holiday memory.
My first Christmas after BD and I got married. BD’s sister is the Queen of Christmas, and I was like a wide-eyed child. Between the exquisitely wrapped presents, the amazing food, and the warmth of being included in this extraordinary family, it was nearly overwhelming.
