I admit it...overall this was one of the worst years of procrastination for me (although is it truly procrastination when you're just so busy with other things that you don't have time for some things until it's almost too late?) But for the first time, maybe EVER, I had presents wrapped and under the tree before midnight on Christmas Eve. I had the day off today - Daniel and I went shopping, then after Mass I locked myself in my bedroom and wrapped and wrapped and wrapped. Well, maybe not that much - it's a pretty lean year.
I still haven't sent my Christmas cards, but the Christmas season technically goes until January 6, the Epiphany, so I don't really consider them late until after that.
Tonight I'm remembering those Christmas Eves and Christmas Days when I had to work my twelve hour shifts - it was tough leaving Tom and the kids, especially on Days because I left the house at about 5:30 am. I don't even remember how we handled it at home with the boys. Did we wait until I was off? Did they just open presents without me? I really don't remember, which is probably a good thing.
Christmas at the plant could still be special though - it was quiet, we had lots of food, and sometimes Santa even dropped by...here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve 1981(Gene, Larry Mc., Paula, Jim/Santa, me, Larry S., "Cowboy"; Jesse and Santa/Jim; me and Santa/Jim) and then some pictures of my plant that I took this year when I was home for Thanksgiving. I climbed almost all of the tall columns at least once - I covered those areas, as well as the boiler, the cooling tower, the lab, the tank farm, and the dock. You could say this is my old neighborhood - it's where I grew up, Part 2.
Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!
