News from Squire's Isle

December 20 – Patricia Hood

The past few Christmases have been wonderful for me, mainly because Jill understands how important tradition is to me. Nicholas believed our son should grow up with “American” Christmas, since we lived in America. But my Greek heritage is important to me. I don’t want to make Michael go door to door singing kalandas for dried figs, I just want a big Christmas eve feast with baklava for dessert.

 

I mentioned this to Jill, and she was very excited about it. So in addition to the regular stuff – Christmas tree, stockings, eggnog and candy canes – we’re also going to bake a loaf of vasilopita on New Years Eve. Whoever finds the coin in their piece will have good luck in the coming year. We’ll exchange gifts on Christmas morning, and also on the first of January, which is St. Basil’s Day (Michael, by the way, is very excited about this particular tradition).

 

All the accommodations she’s making, the excitement with which she’s going about planning everything, just makes me giddy. This is the woman I love, and this is why I love her. So, on Christmas Eve, I’m letting her carry out a tradition that always belonged to Nicholas during the divorce. Even if Michael is a little too old to really believe anymore, Jill is going to dress up like Santa and put the presents under the tree.

 

I’m looking forward to watching her, so we can live out my favorite Christmas carol: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. See, I bet you thought I’d forgotten the question. Jokes on you! Kala Christougena to you all!

 

– Patricia Hood appears in short stories Doing Laundry on Valentine’s Day, Rounding Home, Patricia’s Portrait, Fairytales of Squire’s Isle, Too Many Once Upon a Times, Separation Anxiety, and Eating Out in Squire’s Isle.