Pink Christmas

Christmas has come and gone. The tree is still up and I still have carols stuck in my head ("Four calling birds, three French hens ..."), but the holiday is definitely over. The presents are open. The rain washed away the snow. It's time to replace the mantra of "Merry Christmas" with "Happy New Year." (Side note: though I am no War On Christmas paranoid Rush O'Hannity nutjob, I do say "Merry Christmas" not "Happy Holidays". Actually, this year I found myself, and a number of my other friends, popping an occasional Anglophilial "Happy Christmas". I know not why.) But before we shuffle into 2009, a Christmas recap from the Henry/Coleman household.

This was certainly the pinkest Christmas of my life. Heidi does not lack for feminity, but even she is taken aback by Daisy's overwhelming girliness in regard to color. Everything must be pink. A hint of purple here and there is acceptable, but pink must dominate. Her Christmas haul included a pink princess scooter, a pink bunny bike helmet, a pink Sleeping Beauty dress, a sparkling pink magic wand, a pink Hello Kitty doll, and a dollhouse (which isn't pink, but might be by the end of this year just from atmospheric conditions in the apartment. There is a wonderful slideshow on Heidi's blog for those who want proof.

The holiday itself was lovely. Heidi's mother Jackie ("Grandma") came to visit. Christmas morning we opened presents, then had some crabcakes for lunch, after which we were joined by Chicago's finest working actor John Luzar for more presents and a trip to the Garfield Conservatory, a lovely patch of nature I had never before visited but hope to see soon again. Christmas dinner was a brilliant feast of cassoulet with kielbasa, pork, chicken thighs, and bacon. I was thoroughly stuffed equal parts meat and holiday cheer.

I am a little sad to have Christmas gone so quickly (though I do get Second Christmas in two days - Wednesday I'm flying out to LA to see Mom, Pop and my grandpa Joe, who is 92.) But it was pretty wonderful to get to play Santa Claus. Daisy has been giddy with anticipation since before Christmas, and at last the day came and I don't think it was disappointing in the least.

To close, here is (what else?) some Japanese girls singing "Pink Christmas." God I love YouTube.