Cross Town Thoughts
Is that a lightsaber? No. It’s this season’s hit. The selfie stick. On the porch. Kraklin’ fire. On Kristmas Eve no less. Sixty degrees. We’ll take it!
Cuzins took over Colitti Christmas this year. They devised a new tradition of giving gifts to each other and dubbed it “Secret Grandma.” Conjuring re-imagined treasures from her cellar, a new era of mirth, heart and soul. From Jamison to Jake. A legacy worthy of its creator. 
Delta Barcelona-JFK. Ceiling falls on lady’s head. Media screen broken. Wires dangling. 7-hour flight. Amtrak NY- Springfield. 40 minutes late. Nicked exciting end of Niners’ last game at the “stick”. They win. Yay.
Kristmas Eve lobster at JeanJean’s. Cuzins playing and singing. Priceless. 
If you want to laugh out loud, read Delia Ephron’s A Christmas Manners Quiz. Happy Kristmas to all and to all a good night!
Lacey powder. A whitish blanket covering grass and roof. Kristmas krackers were particularly laden this year. Colitti confetti everywhere. Cuzins cuter than ever. Wasn’t last Kristmas a minute ago? Happy and Merry to all!
Los primos felices de 2012.
Lots of eves. Long Kristmas weekend. Sinatra helps us trim the post-modern plastic tree. Ornaments. Each has a history. Anne’s Santa, Pear, Penguin. Sylvia’s antiques from Surrey, England. Grandma’s aqua MadMen-era. Joe’s Beefeater gin. Bells, angels, crystal icicles. Fillamento SanFrancisco FatherKristmas topper. Joyful art of gift wrap. It’s all about the packaging.
Traditions are comforting. Lobster Newburg. Who does that anymore? Dates back decades. Pats, Niners. Palate cleansers. Cathy’s cannoli and crackers. Paper crowns and Colitti Confetti. They still rhyme in our world.
First things, first. Happy Something-Zero to Anne, dearest friend for 35 years!
When we last left you, Ben was cluelessly chatting with Pete Hamill in the Village, while Dr.Husband was being attacked by the evil tree that poked his eye out and ruined the house. Eye and house restored. Tree tossed in woods in broken stand. GodsonJame got holy water at St.Cecilia’s Mass with Grandma. Sprinkled on evil tree to exorcise demons. Dr.Husband shook head, no, still bad. WalMart. Plastic. No water. No needles. Dr.Husband happy, singing Hallelujah chorus. His wish came true after all these years. Sorry, Ben.
And so it begins. Saturday. Picked out, paid for a very big tree. Son Ben wants a big tree. Dr. Husband hates Kristmas Trees. Really hates big trees. More with every passing year. This year especially, since Ben taking exams at NYU. Not here to help. Bad.
Sunday. Dr. Husband gets home late after picking up tree and tying on top of car. Bad. Not happy. Long weekend of hospital rounding. Lots of ‘Jesus’ and ‘Maria’ Christmas babies born a week early. Very tired. Very bad.
Puts big wide-trunk tree in stand. Watered. Good. Okay. Comes downstairs to finally relax in hot tub. Good. Oh no. Tree tilts. Goes down. Pokes Dr. Husband in the eye. Hurts. Bad. Big mess. Boehner-esque melt-down. “Tree is evil. Christians’ revenge. Wrecking our house. Water all over the floor. Needles everywhere.” Very very bad. Poor Dr. Husband.
Cleans up mess. Tosses tree and broken stand out the door. Sad.
Holly, jolly. Not so much this year. Everyone seems to be in a kranky mood. It’s not unusual for the holidays, stress abounds. Uncertain economy, lousy job market, transitioning college kids, major moves, aging parents, aging us. Makes this season scroogier than usual. Don’t even put on the news. Adults in short supply, Congress still scrapping in its sandbox.
Prospect of Jake’s first Christmas with cuzins brightens the spirit. Singing at OldBaldGuy’s piano with an egg nog will add more needed cheer. For all its faults, family is tradition and hope. So, we’ll light the dysfunctional candle, suck it up and in the end make the best of the next two weeks. It may even be fun! Hmmm. I’ll let you know.
Side Trek . NYC 