Last Christmas

So this is Christmas

And what have you done

Another year over

And a new one just begun.

With apologies to the spirit of Mr. Lennon for plagiarizing/borrowing his famous lyrics, another Christmas is now over. (Sorry – the war isn’t. I guess Yoko will have to keep singing for that one.)

Anyway, Christmas 2006 was a success in the Gressel household. It was nice & quiet, the way I like it. Three days of eating, sleeping, and relaxing. Not a bad way to spend a holiday.

But it was also a strange Christmas – strange in the knowledge that our lives are going to be completely different by next Christmas. If things go as we expect, Christmas 2007 will be celebrated in a new home, in a new state, and with a brand new family member seated in a high chair across from us. We’ll have a new house, new jobs, new friends, new priorities, new goals, and a new baby to celebrate. (No, it’s not The Lovely Mrs. G. and I; it’ll be our first grandchild. How freaky sounding is that???)

It was a tad sad/strange to know that this would be our last Christmas in our little house on the Iowa prairie. We’ve had 7 Christmases here; each one special in its own way. And I’m sure we’ll have a lifetime of good times and memories in our new place, and with any luck I’ll be able to go out to the backyard for a swim after dinner, provided I’m not in need of my usual post-food nap, that is. (Do they still recommend waiting 90 minutes after eating?)

And of course the Big News is that Miss Katie is expecting. So 2007 promises to make grandparents out of Mrs. G and I, although we’d prefer to be known as “Her Majesty” and “The Man” instead of the traditional “Grandma” and “Grandpa”. Because won’t it be fun to hear a precious little child call out, “Her Majesty, can I have some candy?” or “I can’t come out and play. The Man says I have to clean my room.” It’ll be HI-larious, and something our grandchild will be able to tell his or her grandchildren some day...

For the most part, 2006 was a rough year for us. We had a lot of ups and downs, but we’re going to come out on the other side better, stronger, and hopefully saner. Here’s to hoping that 2007 is much, much smoother. Of course, 2007 will include an interstate move, two new career options, and a new baby in our household, so we’ll try to keep it as smooth as possible.

So here’s to the New Year. May it be filled with lots of laughs and the knowledge that life is going to be much, much different. In the meantime, we can all start be looking forward to next Christmas.

Speaking of which, have you taken down your decorations yet? C’mon – you’d better get on it, if you’re going to get your Valentines decorations up by midweek...

And we’ll have to see if we can find another Lennon/Ono song to mark the occasion.