We’ve made our Christmas plans. The We here is the Girls, the three of us, the women of the house who spend all important days fighting, eating and watching Lifetime movies that only my mother really wants to see. We’re in more than one house, of course. My sister is in northern New Jersey, my mother is in northern Virginia, and I’m in an apartment in Northeast DC that neither my sister nor my mother come to visit. Bygones.
Holidays are incredibly stressful for the sole reason that we can’t ever seem to figure out something to do. Long gone are the days that my mother cooked. In the early 00s those were replaced with Christmas Eves spent rubbing elbows with Jewish families at Chinese restaurants, Thanksgivings at upscale brunches in Old Town Alexandria. I’m not sure when those activities lost their appeal, but they have. Local just isn’t enough. It’s as if we have to up the ante, have to introduce something racy into our relationship with the holidays.
I did a lot of extra research for this year’s Christmas. I spent hours on the web, poring over pages and chats and reservation sites. Charlottesville, VA is a great spot, close to many wineries and a handful of history. Con? There isn’t a lot to do on the actual holiday. Williamsburg was a possibility, until we realized that this was Mecca for all things hokey and costumed and there was a distinct possibility that our server might churn butter table side. Pennsylvania is our been-there, done-that state; we’re starting to look like Baltimore and Annapolis groupies. Florida is too far, New Jersey is too cold and no one treats Delaware as a destination.
And so DC it is. We’re renting a suite in a hotel with towels bigger than your body and hiring a limo to see the city’s lights. We’ll have brunch there, but not high tea, as my mother let us know in no uncertain terms that formal tea was one of the things this hospitality hot spot just DID NOT do well. I will fill the tub just because the water heater will handle it and at least once beg all of us to pile into one bed to feel each other’s giggles. My sister and I will have champagne in the room, at the bar, and likely in the limo and my mother will politely decline (citing tomorrow’s headache) while my sister and I will independently imagine the splendor of one day, for just one day, seeing our mother tipsy and laughing without restraint. I will roll around on the couch and on each bed and I will do so wearing black, knowing full well that cats aren’t invited to fancy hotels because of their drunken, unapologetic shedding.
I cannot wait.
20 Comments
I’ve been to Charlottesville on Thanksgiving. We ate hotdogs at the 7-11. I don’t recommend Christmas :)
I still hope I get to visit around that time :)
That sounds decadent and lovely.
I am not traveling this year. I went back to New England last year, and came back mostly dead, and so have been informed in no uncertain terms that I shall not be doing that again.
However, I have already set up the tree and am fully booked at Christmas Eve. Should be fun.
The Horse Whisperer and I look forward to Christmas all year – we have four days off together, and spend them being tourists in our city. I cannot recommend this highly enough. You’ll have a lovely time!
Sounds perfect! Why not check out a beach hotel for next year? Rehobeth, maybe? Even if there isn’t much open, the ocean is great to see in any season.
This sounds absolutely divine!
It sounds interesting but sad at the same time. I relish cooking for everyone the weekend before when our girls come home with their families. Ducky and I stay home for Christmas, I do a turkey, and the door is open to all.
I wish you peace and lots of champaign giggles… with your mom too.
Have a lovely holiday! You have planned well, I hope it is a memorable trip filled with fun
That sounds pretty ok for a holiday to me! I hope you get many, many giggles and fun times and, who knows, your mother may choose this year to imbibe. We can always cheer her on. :)
OUTSTANDING! I love it. In fact, I will be doing an early DC Christmas this coming weekend with my own daughter. Looking forward to it immensely.
Fancy hotel with big fluffy towels? Screams Happy Holidays to me!!
My mother is dying. Her bones are, according to the orthopedic surgeon,paper-thin, her left leg is shattered, probably by an aide turning her to clean her. She barely recognizes me, & is a shadow of the woman who raised me. My sister is in california, recently remarried with a new family. I have been working like a Demon & consequently am going to put a small tree up in my living room. Yay Christmas!
I’d like to have a family christmas. I’m just going to have to find a “family” or not. Enjoy your time with your mother & sisters. It will all come to an end sooner then you’d like.
I’m just the Soul of Good Cheer, aren’t I?
Super fun good times.
Sounds splendid. Enjoy it!
You really should’ve gone with Williamsburg! As someone who actually attempted to churn butter this year, I’d totally pay to watch someone do it tableside. ;) And I know all too well the feigned/actual headache. Enjoy the romping! Personally, I’ll be mourning the lack of family drama this holiday season.
I have no idea why that says Jane Doe! It’s me, God. Dammit, Margaret!
i’ve seen my mother tipsy and it wasn’t a sight i never want to see again.
hope your plans are filled with laughter, love and happiness!
DC sounds amazing! Have a great time and enjoy some bubbly!
ah yes, I too indulge in wearing black when I’m not home due to the cat hair. When I stay at my moms, or in hotels! I’m impressed to have read you do the same!
Next time you do this, please keep in mind that we can always make room in our shed for you and your guests. No cats ever make it in there, and we have fun lawn and gardening tools that you can use to help us maintain the splendor of our property.
;)
REASONABLE RATES!